bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The combination of an inflammatory peripheral blood gene expression and imaging biomarkers enhance prediction of radiographic progression in knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Attur Mukundan , Krasnokutsky Svetlana , Zhou Hua , Samuels Jonathan , Chang Gregory , Bencardino Jenny , Rosenthal Pamela , Rybak Leon , Huebner Janet L. , Kraus Virginia B. , Abramson Steven B.
Published: September 2020

Objective

Predictive biomarkers of progression in knee osteoarthritis are sought to enable clinical trials of structure-modifying drugs. A peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) inflammatory gene signature, MRI-based bone marrow lesions (BML) and meniscus extrusion scores, meniscal lesions, and osteophytes on X-ray each have been shown separately to predict radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) in subjects with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (SKOA). In these studies, we determined whether the combination of the PBL inflammatory gene expression and these imaging findings at baseline enhanced the prognostic value of either alone.

Methods

PBL inflammatory gene expression (increased mRNA for IL-1β, TNFα, and COX-2), routine radiographs, and 3T knee MRI were assessed in two independent populations with SKOA: an NYU cohort and the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). At baseline and 24 months, subjects underwent standardized fixed-flexion knee radiographs and knee MRI. Medial JSN (mJSN) was determined as the change in medial JSW. Progressors were defined by an mJSN cut-point (≥ 0.5 mm/24 months). Models were evaluated by odds ratios (OR) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

We validated our prior finding in these two independent (NYU and OAI) cohorts, individually and combined, that an inflammatory PBL inflammatory gene expression predicted radiographic progression of SKOA after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. Similarly, the presence of baseline BML and meniscal lesions by MRI or semiquantitative osteophyte score on X-ray each predicted radiographic medial JSN at 24 months. The combination of the PBL inflammatory gene expression and medial BML increased the AUC from 0.66 (p = 0.004) to 0.75 (p < 0.0001) and the odds ratio from 6.31 to 19.10 (p < 0.0001) in the combined cohort of 473 subjects. The addition of osteophyte score to BML and PBL inflammatory gene expression further increased the predictive value of any single biomarker. A causal analysis demonstrated that the PBL inflammatory gene expression and BML independently influenced mJSN.

Conclusion

The use of the PBL inflammatory gene expression together with imaging biomarkers as combinatorial predictive biomarkers, markedly enhances the identification of radiographic progressors. The identification of the SKOA population at risk for progression will help in the future design of disease-modifying OA drug trials and personalized medicine strategies.
The prophylactic effects of BIFICO on the antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and gut microbiota
Authors: Wu Jiannong , Gan Tieer , Zhang Ying , Xia Guolian , Deng Shu , Lv Xin , Zhang Bingxin , Lv Bin
Published: September 2020

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prophylactic effects of probiotic mixture BIFICO on antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis (AIGD) and the influence on the change of the gut microbiota.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled study and divided 196 patients who required intravenous beta-lactam antibiotics into three groups: a control group (no probiotics), a regular group (840 mg of BIFICO), and a double-dosage group (1680 mg of BIFICO). The symptoms of antibiotic-related diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain and the incidence of AIGD were evaluated 7 days and 8–14 days after antibiotic use, with 10 patients in each group. 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to detect changes of the gut microbiota.

Results

Within 7 days of the initiation of antibiotic treatment, the incidences of AIGD in the control group, regular group (840 mg of BIFICO), and double-dosage group (1680 mg of BIFICO) were 21.88%, 14.93%, and 6.15% respectively. On days of 8–14th, the incidences of AIGD in the control group, regular group, and double-dosage group were 25%, 14.93%, and 4.62%, respectively. The incidence of AIGD in the double-dosage group within 7 days and 14 days were both significantly lower than that in relevant control group (P < 0.05). On day 14, the incidence of AIGD in the double-dosage group was lower than that in the regular group (P < 0.05). The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the control group after antibiotic treatment was significantly reduced compared to that prior to treatment, while those of the regular and double-dosage groups were stable. The species abundance, especially Parabacteroides, Phascolarctobacterium and Roseburia, of the double-dosage group was greater than that of the regular group and the control group.

Conclusions

BIFICO may reduce the occurrence of AIGD in a dose-dependent manner and can stabilize the gut microbiota balance.
A lifestyle intervention during pregnancy to reduce obesity in early childhood: the study protocol of ADEBAR – a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ferrari Nina , Schmitz Laura , Schmidt Nikola , Mahabir Esther , Van de Vondel Patricia , Merz Waltraut M. , Lehmacher Walter , Stock Stephanie , Brockmeier Konrad , Ensenauer Regina , Fehm Tanja , Joisten Christine
Published: September 2020

Background

The prevalence of obesity in childhood is increasing worldwide and may be affected by genetic factors and the lifestyle (exercise, nutrition behavior) of expectant parents. Lifestyle factors affect adipokines, namely leptin, resistin, and adiponectin as well as cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are involved in the regulation of maternal metabolic homeostasis, glucose metabolism, and the development of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, gestational diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. However, studies focusing on the effect of exercise or a combination of parental exercise and nutrition on the above-mentioned markers in newborns (venous cord blood) and especially on the long-term development of infants’ weight gain are lacking. The study will investigate the effects of a multimodal intervention (regular exercise, diet) on parental and childhood adipocytokines (leptin, resistin, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, BDNF). The effect of a lifestyle-related change in “fetal environmental conditions” on the long-term weight development of the child up to the age of two will also be assessed.

Methods/design

A randomized multi-center controlled trial will be conducted in Germany, comparing supervised aerobic and resistance training 2x/week (13th to 36th weeks of gestation) and nutritional counseling (6th to 36th weeks of gestation) during pregnancy with usual care. Thirty women (pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index ≥25 kg/m2, 6th–10th week of gestation) will be included in each group. Maternal anthropometric and physical measurements as well as blood sampling will occur at the 6th–10th, 13th–14th, 21st-24th, and 36th week of gestation, at delivery as well as 8 weeks and 24 months postpartum. Neonatal measurements and umbilical blood sampling will be performed at birth. Maternal and infants’ weight development will be assessed every 6 months till 24 months postpartum. A difference in childhood BMI of 1 kg/m2 at the age of two years between both groups will be assumed. A power size of 80% using a significance level of 0.05 and an effect size of 1.0 is presumed.

Discussion

A better understanding of how lifestyle-related changes in the fetal environment might influence infants’ outcome after two years of life could have a profound impact on the prevention and development of infants’ obesity.

Trial registration

The trial is registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00007702); Registered on 10th of August 2016; retrospectively registered https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00007702
The Latin American Spanish version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam is sensitive to cognitive and pathological changes in preclinical autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Vila-Castelar Clara , Muñoz Nathalia , Papp Kathryn V. , Amariglio Rebecca E. , Baena Ana , Guzmán-Vélez Edmarie , Bocanegra Yamile , Sanchez Justin S. , Reiman Eric M. , Johnson Keith A. , Sperling Reisa A. , Lopera Francisco , Rentz Dorene M. , Quiroz Yakeel T.
Published: September 2020

Background

To determine whether performance on the Latin American Spanish version of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (LAS-FNAME) can differentiate between cognitively intact carriers of an autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease mutation (E280A) in Presenilin-1, who are genetically determined to develop early-onset dementia, from matched non-carriers. We also sought to examine whether LAS-FNAME performance is associated with amyloid-β and regional tau burden in mutation carriers.

Methods

A total of 35 cognitively intact mutation carriers (age range 26–41), 19 symptomatic carriers, and 48 matched non-carriers (age range 27–44) completed a neuropsychological assessment including the LAS-FNAME. A subset of participants (31 carriers [12 symptomatic] and 35 non-carriers) traveled from Colombia to Boston to undergo positron emission tomography (PET) using Pittsburgh compound B to measure mean cortical amyloid-β and flortaucipir for regional tau. ANOVA analyses and Spearman correlations were used to examine group differences and relationships among LAS-FNAME performance and amyloid-β and tau accumulation.

Results

Compared to non-carriers, cognitively intact mutation carriers had lower scores on the LAS-FNAME Total Scores (p = .040). Across all carriers (including symptomatic carriers), higher levels of amyloid-β (r = − .436, p = .018) and regional tau in the entorhinal (r = − .394, p = .031) and inferior temporal cortex (r = − .563, p = .001) were associated with lower LAS-FNAME Total Scores.

Conclusions

Performance on the LAS-FNAME differentiated between cognitively intact mutation carriers from non-carriers and was associated with greater amyloid and tau burden when examining all carriers. Findings suggest that the LAS-FNAME is sensitive to early clinical and pathological changes and can potentially help track disease progression in Spanish-speaking individuals.
Fulminant septic shock due to Edwardsiella tarda infection associated with multiple liver abscesses: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Bakirova Gultakin Hasan , Alharthy Abdulrahman , Corcione Silvia , Aletreby Waleed Tharwat , Mady Ahmed Fouad , De Rosa Francesco Giuseppe , Karakitsos Dimitrios
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Edwardsiella tarda uncommonly infects humans. The usual presentation is mild gastroenteritis, but systemic manifestations may occur. Lethal infections are rarely documented in patients with underlying disorders.

Case presentation

A previously healthy 37-year-old Southeast Asian woman presented to our hospital with recent onset of abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. Her condition rapidly deteriorated with signs and symptoms of fulminant septic shock; thus, she was intubated, supported with intravenous vasopressors and fluids, and transferred to the intensive care unit. An abdominal computed tomographic scan with contrast revealed multiple liver abscesses. Blood cultures were obtained and computed tomography–guided percutaneous drainage of the liver abscesses with supplementary cultures was performed; thereafter, empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics were initiated. All cultures grew E. tarda, whereas an antibiogram showed resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics and sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides; thus, the antibiotic regimen was updated accordingly. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged from the intensive care unit 14 days after admission.

Conclusion

E. tarda human infection can present as liver abscess and fulminant septic shock. E. tarda strains can be resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics; hence, culture-based antibiotics should be used accordingly. Clinicians should be aware of this rare and potentially lethal infection.
Recovery from COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: the potential role of an intensive care unit recovery clinic: a case report
Authors: Mayer Kirby P. , Sturgill Jamie L. , Kalema Anna G. , Soper Melissa K. , Seif Sherif M. , Cassity Evan P. , Hatton Kolpek Jimmi , Dupont-Versteegden Esther E. , Montgomery-Yates Ashley A. , Morris Peter E.
Published: September 2020

Background

In this case report, we describe the trajectory of recovery of a young, healthy patient diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the potential role of intensive care unit recovery or follow-up clinics for patients surviving acute hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019.

Case presentation

Our patient was a 27-year-old Caucasian woman with a past medical history of asthma transferred from a community hospital to our medical intensive care unit for acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to bilateral pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation (ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fraction of inspired oxygen, 180). On day 2 of her intensive care unit admission, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction confirmed coronavirus disease 2019. Her clinical status gradually improved, and she was extubated on intensive care unit day 5. She had a negative test result for coronavirus disease 2019 twice with repeated reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction before being discharged to home after 10 days in the intensive care unit. Two weeks after intensive care unit discharge, the patient returned to our outpatient intensive care unit recovery clinic. At follow-up, the patient endorsed significant fatigue and exhaustion with difficulty walking, minor issues with sleep disruption, and periods of memory loss. She scored 10/12 on the short performance physical battery, indicating good physical function. She did not have signs of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder through self-report questionnaires. Clinically, she was considered at low risk of developing post–intensive care syndrome, but she required follow-up services to assist in navigating the healthcare system, addressing remaining symptoms, and promoting return to her pre–coronavirus disease 2019 societal role.

Conclusion

We present this case report to suggest that patients surviving coronavirus disease 2019 with subsequent development of acute respiratory distress syndrome will require more intense intensive care unit recovery follow-up. Patients with a higher degree of acute illness who also have pre-existing comorbidities and those of older age who survive mechanical ventilation for coronavirus disease 2019 will require substantial post–intensive care unit care to mitigate and treat post–intensive care syndrome, promote reintegration into the community, and improve quality of life.
Lithium intoxication–induced dysgeusia accompanied by glossalgia in a patient receiving lithium carbonate: a case report
Authors: Hanyu Shota , Sugita Naoko , Matsuda Miyuki , Murai Toshiya , Fujiwara Hironobu
Published: September 2020

Background

Lithium carbonate is widely used as a first-line therapeutic agent for the ﻿depressive and manic phases of bipolar disorder. Although limb tremors and hypothyroidism are well-known side effects of lithium carbonate, other rare adverse reactions can also occur.

Case presentation

A 53-year-old Japanese woman diagnosed with lithium intoxication developed dysgeusia and glossalgia during treatment with lithium carbonate. She also showed symptoms of a swaying gait, finger tremors, and dysarthria. All of these symptoms subsided when her blood lithium concentration was reduced to a level below that which induces intoxication.

Conclusions

We present a rare case of lithium carbonate–induced dysgeusia accompanied by glossalgia. Early detection of these symptoms is important in clinical settings because they can be overlooked until patients lose their appetite, which severely impairs their quality of life.
Intuitive, reproducible high-throughput molecular dynamics in Galaxy: a tutorial
Authors: Bray Simon A. , Senapathi Tharindu , Barnett Christopher B. , Grüning Björn A.
Published: September 2020

This paper is a tutorial developed for the data analysis platform Galaxy. The purpose of Galaxy is to make high-throughput computational data analysis, such as molecular dynamics, a structured, reproducible and transparent process. In this tutorial we focus on 3 questions: How are protein-ligand systems parameterized for molecular dynamics simulation? What kind of analysis can be carried out on molecular trajectories? How can high-throughput MD be used to study multiple ligands? After finishing you will have learned about force-fields and MD parameterization, how to conduct MD simulation and analysis for a protein-ligand system, and understand how different molecular interactions contribute to the binding affinity of ligands to the Hsp90 protein.
Research on human performance evaluation model based on neural network and data mining algorithm
Authors: Liang Wei , Li Tingyi
Published: September 2020

In order to effectively evaluate personnel performance, a distributed data mining algorithm for spatial networks based on BP neural wireless network is proposed. In the cloud computing environment, an excavator is used to construct multiple input multiple output spatial network data, analyze the data structure, and perform redundant data compression of massive data through time-frequency feature extraction. Combined with the adaptive matching filtering method, the characteristics of the data are matched. The spatial frequency feature extraction method is used to locate the features of the multiple-input multiple-output spatial network data. In order to improve the accuracy of data mining, the BP neural network is used to classify and identify the extracted data features to achieve the optimization of data mining. A wireless sensor network is a wireless network composed of a large number of stationary or moving sensors in a self-organizing and multi-hop manner. It cooperatively senses, collects, processes, and transmits the information of the perceived objects in the geographical area covered by the network and finally puts these The information is sent to the owner of the network. This algorithm improves the accuracy of personnel performance evaluation, simultaneously establishes a hierarchical analysis and quantitative evaluation model for the performance of government managers, and adjusts the results of hierarchical statistical analysis on government administrators as needed. The performance evaluation and optimization of government administrators were introduced. The empirical analysis results show that the method has higher accuracy for government managers’ performance evaluation, higher efficiency of big data processing, and better integration.
Retraction Note: Growth property at infinity of harmonic functions
Authors: Jiang Zongcai , Hou Linbo , Peixoto-de-Büyükkurt Corchado
Published: September 2020

This article has been retracted. Please see the retraction notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13660-015-0919-6.
Curved fronts of bistable reaction–diffusion equations with nonlinear convection
Authors: Niu Hui-Ling , Liu Jiayin
Published: September 2020

This paper is concerned with traveling curved fronts of bistable reaction–diffusion equations with nonlinear convection in a two-dimensional space. By constructing super- and subsolutions, we establish the existence of traveling curved fronts. Furthermore, we show that the traveling curved front is globally asymptotically stable.
An iterative scheme for split monotone variational inclusion, variational inequality and fixed point problems
Authors: Alansari Monairah , Farid Mohammad , Ali Rehan
Published: September 2020

We propose and analyze a new type iterative algorithm to find a common solution of split monotone variational inclusion, variational inequality, and fixed point problems for an infinite family of nonexpansive mappings in the framework of Hilbert spaces. Further, we show that a sequence generated by the algorithm converges strongly to common solution. Furthermore, we list some consequences of our established theorem. Finally, we provide a numerical example to demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm. We emphasize that the result accounted in manuscript unifies and extends various results in this field of study.
Cloud resource orchestration in the multi-cloud landscape: a systematic review of existing frameworks
Authors: Tomarchio Orazio , Calcaterra Domenico , Modica Giuseppe Di
Published: September 2020

The number of both service providers operating in the cloud market and customers consuming cloud-based services is constantly increasing, proving that the cloud computing paradigm has successfully delivered its potential. Nevertheless, the unceasing growth of the cloud market is posing hard challenges on its participants. On the provider side, the capability of orchestrating resources in order to maximise profits without failing customers’ expectations is a matter of concern. On the customer side, the efficient resource selection from a plethora of similar services advertised by a multitude of providers is an open question. In such a multi-cloud landscape, several research initiatives advocate the employment of software frameworks (namely, cloud resource orchestration frameworks - CROFs) capable of orchestrating the heterogeneous resources offered by a multitude of cloud providers in a way that best suits the customer’s need. The objective of this paper is to provide the reader with a systematic review and comparison of the most relevant CROFs found in the literature, as well as to highlight the multi-cloud computing open issues that need to be addressed by the research community in the near future.
Learning from previous work and finding synergies in the domains of public and environmental health: EU-funded projects BRIDGE Health and HBM4EU
Authors: David Madlen , Schwedler Gerda , Reiber Lena , Tolonen Hanna , Andersson Anna-Maria , Esteban López Marta , Joas Anke , Schöpel Miriam , Polcher Alexandra , Kolossa-Gehring Marike
Published: September 2020

Background

During the last decade, the European Union initiated several projects in the domains of public and environmental health. Within this framework, BRIDGE Health (Bridging Information and Data Generation for Evidence-based Health policy and Research) and HBM4EU (European human biomonitoring initiative) have been implemented. Whereas, the focus of BRIDGE Health was towards a sustainable and integrated health information system (HIS), the aim of HBM4EU is to improve evidence of the internal exposure of European citizens to environmental chemicals by human biomonitoring (HBM) and the impact of internal exposure on health. As both, environmental and public health determinants are important for health promotion, disease prevention and policy, BRIDGE Health and HBM4EU have overlapping aims and outcomes. In order to improve health information regarding public health and environmental health issues, best use and exchange of respective networks and project results is necessary.

Methods

Both projects have implemented health information (HI) and HBM tasks in order to provide adequate environmental and public health information of the European population. Synergies of the projects were identified in the working progress and because of overlapping networks and experts a focused analysis of both projects was envisaged. This paper elaborates on the aims and outcomes of both projects and the benefit of merging and channelling research results for the use of better health information and policy making that may be of relevance for any other project in these research fields.

Results

The need for focused exchanges and collaborations between the projects were identified and benefits of exchanges were highlighted for the specific areas of indicator development, linkage of data repositories and the combination of HBM studies and health examination surveys (HES). Further recommendations for a European wide harmonisation among different tasks in the fields of public health and environmental health are being developed.

Conclusions

Lessons learned from HBM4EU and BRIDGE Health show that continuous efforts must be undertaken, also by succeeding projects, to guarantee the exchange between public health and environmental health issues. Networks covering both are essential to provide better evidence of knowledge. The experiences from BRIDGE Health and HBM4EU give a valuable input for any future activity in these domains. Avoiding overlaps and streamlining further exchange of public health and environmental health contributes to best use of research results and allows to develop new strategies and tools for improvement of health information and thus enhances people’s health and well-being.
Do the stock returns of clean energy corporations respond to oil price shocks and policy uncertainty?
Authors: Zhao Xiaohui
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates the effects of oil price shocks and policy uncertainty on the stock returns of clean energy companies. We use a structural vector autoregressive (VAR) model to separate demand and supply shocks in the global crude oil market from 2001 to 2018. We find that oil supply shocks and aggregated demand shocks have a positive effect on the returns of clean energy companies, while policy uncertainty shocks and oil-specific-demand shocks have a negative effect. The impacts of these shocks are shown to last relatively long. Moreover, the effects of oil shocks on the clean energy stock returns are amplified by adding policy uncertainty as an endogenously driven factor to the model. The impact of policy uncertainty is mainly transmitted through the uncertainty of inflation.
Effects of acute hypobaric hypoxia on thermoregulatory and circulatory responses during cold air exposure
Authors: Shin Sora , Yasukochi Yoshiki , Wakabayashi Hitoshi , Maeda Takafumi
Published: September 2020

Background

The thermoregulatory responses during simultaneous exposure to hypoxia and cold are not well understood owing to the opposite reactions of vasomotor tone in these two environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of hypobaric hypoxia on various thermoregulatory responses, including skin blood flow (SkBF) during cold exposure.

Methods

Ten subjects participated in two experimental conditions: normobaric normoxia with cold (NC, barometric pressure (PB) = 760 mmHg) and hypobaric hypoxia with cold (HC, PB = 493 mmHg). The air temperature was maintained at 28 °C for 65 min and gradually decreased to 19 °C for both conditions. The total duration of the experiment was 135 min.

Results

The saturation of percutaneous oxygen (SpO2) was maintained at 98–99% in NC condition, but decreased to around 84% in HC condition. The rectal and mean skin temperatures showed no significant differences between the conditions; however, the forehead temperature was higher in HC condition than in NC condition. The pulse rate increased in HC condition, and there was a strong negative relationship between SpO2 and pulse rate (r = − 0.860, p = 0.013). SkBF and blood pressure showed no significant differences between the two conditions.

Conclusion

These results suggest that hypobaric hypoxia during cold exposure did not alter the overall thermoregulatory responses. However, hypobaric hypoxia did affect pulse rate regardless of cold exposure.
Dietary protocatechuic acid ameliorates inflammation and up-regulates intestinal tight junction proteins by modulating gut microbiota in LPS-challenged piglets
Authors: Hu Ruizhi , He Ziyu , Liu Ming , Tan Jijun , Zhang Hongfu , Hou De-Xing , He Jianhua , Wu Shusong
Published: September 2020

Background

Weaning is one of the major factors that cause stress and intestinal disease in piglets. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is an active plant phenolic acid which exists in Chinese herb, Duzhong (Eucommia ulmoidesOliver), and is also considered as the main bioactive metabolite of polyphenol against oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PCA on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota in a weaned piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods

Thirty-six piglets (Pig Improvement Company line 337 × C48, 28 d of age, 8.87 kg ± 0.11 kg BW) were randomly allocated into 3 treatments and fed with a basal diet (CTL), a diet added 50 mg/kg of aureomycin (AUR), or a diet supplemented with 4000 mg/kg of PCA, respectively. The piglets were challenged with LPS (10 μg/kg BW) on d 14 and d 21 by intraperitoneal injection during the 21-d experiment. Animals (n = 6 from each group) were sacrificed after being anesthetized by sodium pentobarbital at 2 h after the last injection of LPS. The serum was collected for antioxidant indices and inflammatory cytokines analysis, the ileum was harvested for detecting mRNA and protein levels of tight junction proteins by PCR and immunohistochemical staining, and the cecum chyme was collected for intestinal flora analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

Dietary supplementation of PCA or AUR significantly increased the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and claudin-1 in intestinal mucosa, and decreased the serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and IL-6, as compared with CTL group. In addition, PCA also decreased the serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-α (P < 0.05). Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that PCA increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P < 0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis at the genus level revealed that PCA reduced the relative abundance ofPrevotella9,Prevotella2,Holdemanella, andRuminococcus torquesgroup (P < 0.05), and increased the relative abundance ofRoseburiaandDesulfovibrio(P < 0.05), whereas AUR had no significant effect on these bacteria.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated that both PCA and AUR had protective effect on oxidative stress, inflammation and intestinal barrier function in piglets challenged with LPS, and PCA potentially exerted the protective function by modulating intestinal flora in a way different from AUR.

Holdemanella
Nanoparticle treatment of maize analyzed through the metatranscriptome: compromised nitrogen cycling, possible phytopathogen selection, and plant hormesis
Authors: Sillen Wouter M. A. , Thijs Sofie , Abbamondi Gennaro Roberto , De La Torre Roche Roberto , Weyens Nele , White Jason C. , Vangronsveld Jaco
Published: September 2020

Background

The beneficial use of nanoparticle silver or nanosilver may be confounded when its potent antimicrobial properties impact non-target members of natural microbiomes such as those present in soil or the plant rhizosphere. Agricultural soils are a likely sink for nanosilver due to its presence in agrochemicals and land-applied biosolids, but a complete assessment of nanosilver’s effects on this environment is lacking because the impact on the natural soil microbiome is not known. In a study assessing the use of nanosilver for phytopathogen control with maize, we analyzed the metatranscriptome of the maize rhizosphere and observed multiple unintended effects of exposure to 100 mg kg−1 nanosilver in soil during a growth period of 117 days.

Results

We found several unintended effects of nanosilver which could interfere with agricultural systems in the long term. Firstly, the archaea community was negatively impacted with a more than 30% decrease in relative abundance, and as such, their involvement in nitrogen cycling and specifically, nitrification, was compromised. Secondly, certain potentially phytopathogenic fungal groups showed significantly increased abundances, possibly due to the negative effects of nanosilver on bacteria exerting natural biocontrol against these fungi as indicated by negative interactions in a network analysis. Up to 5-fold increases in relative abundance have been observed for certain possibly phytopathogenic fungal genera. Lastly, nanosilver exposure also caused a direct physiological impact on maize as illustrated by increased transcript abundance of aquaporin and phytohormone genes, overall resulting in a stress level with the potential to yield hormetically stimulated plant root growth.

Conclusions

This study indicates the occurrence of significant unintended effects of nanosilver use on corn, which could turn out to be negative to crop productivity and ecosystem health in the long term. We therefore highlight the need to include the microbiome when assessing the risk associated with nano-enabled agriculture.
Impact of industrial production system parameters on chicken microbiomes: mechanisms to improve performance and reduce Campylobacter
Authors: McKenna Aaron , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Kelly Carmel , Linton Mark , Sloan William T. , Green Brian D. , Lavery Ursula , Dorrell Nick , Wren Brendan W. , Richmond Anne , Corcionivoschi Nicolae , Gundogdu Ozan
Published: September 2020

Background

The factors affecting host-pathogen ecology in terms of the microbiome remain poorly studied. Chickens are a key source of protein with gut health heavily dependent on the complex microbiome which has key roles in nutrient assimilation and vitamin and amino acid biosynthesis. The chicken gut microbiome may be influenced by extrinsic production system parameters such as Placement Birds/m2 (stocking density), feed type and additives. Such parameters, in addition to on-farm biosecurity may influence performance and also pathogenic bacterial numbers such as Campylobacter. In this study, three different production systems ‘Normal’ (N), ‘Higher Welfare’ (HW) and ‘Omega-3 Higher Welfare’ (O) were investigated in an industrial farm environment at day 7 and day 30 with a range of extrinsic parameters correlating performance with microbial dynamics and Campylobacter presence.

Results

Our data identified production system N as significantly dissimilar from production systems HW and O when comparing the prevalence of genera. An increase in Placement Birds/m2 density led to a decrease in environmental pressure influencing the microbial community structure. Prevalence of genera, such as Eisenbergiella within HW and O, and likewise Alistipes within N were representative. These genera have roles directly relating to energy metabolism, amino acid, nucleotide and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) utilisation. Thus, an association exists between consistent and differentiating parameters of the production systems that affect feed utilisation, leading to competitive exclusion of genera based on competition for nutrients and other factors. Campylobacter was identified within specific production system and presence was linked with the increased diversity and increased environmental pressure on microbial community structure. Addition of Omega-3 though did alter prevalence of specific genera, in our analysis did not differentiate itself from HW production system. However, Omega-3 was linked with a positive impact on weight gain.

Conclusions

Overall, our results show that microbial communities in different industrial production systems are deterministic in elucidating the underlying biological confounders, and these recommendations are transferable to farm practices and diet manipulation leading to improved performance and better intervention strategies against Campylobacter within the food chain.
The feasibility of 18F-FDG PET/CT for predicting pathologic risk status in early-stage uterine cervical squamous cancer
Authors: Liu Shuai , Xia Lingfang , Yang Ziyi , Ge Huijuan , Wang Chunmei , Pan Herong , Song Shaoli , Zhou Zhengrong
Published: September 2020

Background

Postoperative pathologic risk factors (PRFs) could increase the recurrence rate in early-stage uterine cervical squamous cancer (ECSC). Our study intended to explore the efficiency of 18F-FDG PET/CT for assessing the pathologic risk status (PRS) in ECSC patients.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed in 240 ECSC patients with stage IA2-IIA2 (FIGO 2009), who underwent preoperative PET/CT scans and subsequent radical surgery between January 2010 and July 2015. Intermediate-risk (tumour diameter ≥ 4 cm, stromal invasion depth ≥ 1/2, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI)), and high-risk factors (parametria involvement, positive surgery margin, pelvic lymph node metastasis) were confirmed by postoperative pathology. Patients with none of these PRFs were at a low risk for relapse. One of these PRFs was defined as positive risk. The relationship between each PRF and 18F-FDG uptake was analysed by t-test. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the efficiency of PET/CT parameters for assessing the PRS. The area under the curve (AUC) was used as an indicator for predictive efficiency.

Results

Patients with higher SUVmax (p < 0.001), MTV (p < 0.001) and TLG (p < 0.001) had larger tumour sizes and deeper stromal invasion. Further multivariate analyses showed SUVmax and TLG were independent predictors for positive- and intermediate-risk status. In high-risk group, MTV and TLG were associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis and parametria involvement. However, only MTV was a significant indicator.

Conclusions

Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT had an independent predictive value for PRS in ECSC.
A prospective analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of 3 T MRI, CT and endoscopic ultrasound for preoperative T staging of potentially resectable esophageal cancer
Authors: Guo Jia , Wang Zhaoqi , Qin Jianjun , Zhang Hongkai , Liu Wentao , Zhao Yan , Lu Yanan , Yan Xu , Zhang Zhongxian , Zhang Ting , Zhang Shouning , Dominik Nickel Marcel , Kamel Ihab R. , Li Hailiang , Qu Jinrong
Published: September 2020

Background

Patients with esophageal cancer (EC) undergo endoscopic ultrasound and CT based cancer staging. Recent technical developments allow improved MRI quality with diminished motion artifact that may allow MRI to compare favorable to CT for noninvasive staging. Hence the purpose of the study was to assess image quality and diagnostic accuracy of 3 T MRI versus CT and EUS for preoperative T-staging of potentially resectable esophageal cancer.

Methods

Between October-2014 and December-2017, esophageal cancer patients with T-staging by EUS were enrolled in this prospective study. Post-operative histopathologic T-staging was the reference standard. All participants underwent MRI [T2- multi-shot turbo spin echo sequence (msTSE), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and 3D gradient-echo based sequence (3D-GRE)] and CT [non-contrast and multiphase contrast-enhanced CT scanning] 5.6 + 3.6 days after endoscopy. Surgery was performed within 3.6 + 3.5 days after imaging. Two blinded endoscopists (reader 1 and 2) and radiologists (reader 3 and 4) independently evaluated EUS and CT/MRI, respectively. Considering the clinical relevance, patients were dichotomized into early (T1 and T2) vs late (T3 and T4) stage cancer before assessment. For statistical purpose, the binary decision was defined as the ability of the imaging technique to diagnose early stage/not early stage esophageal cancer. Diagnostic performance of EUS, MRI and CT was compared using McNemar’s test with Bonferroni correction; kappa values were assessed for reader performance.

Results

74 study participants (60 ± 8 yrs.; 56 men) with esophageal cancer were evaluated, of whom 85%(63/74) had squamous cell carcinoma, 61%(45/74) were at early stage and 39%(29/74) were at late stage cancer, as determined by histopathology. Intra- and Inter-reader agreement for pre-operative vs post-operative T-staging was excellent for all imaging modalities. Compared to CT, MRI showed significantly higher accuracy for both the readers (reader3: 96% vs 82%, p = 0.0038, reader4: 95% vs 80%, p = 0.0076, for MRI vs CT, respectively). Further, MRI outperformed EUS with higher specificity (reader 1 vs 3: 59% vs 93%, p = 0.0015, reader 2 vs 4: 66% vs 93%, p = 0.0081, for EUS vs MRI respectively), and accuracy (reader 1 vs 3: 81% vs 96%, p = 0.0022, reader 2 vs 4: 85% vs 95%, p = 0.057, for EUS vs MRI, respectively).

Conclusion

For resectable esophageal cancer, MRI had better diagnostic performance for tumor staging compared to CT and EUS.

Trial registration

ChiCTR, ChiCTR-DOD, Registered 2nd October 2014, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=9620
A multilevel analysis of factors affecting kindergartners’ creative dispositions in relations to child-level variables and teacher-level variables
Authors: Kang Eun Jin
Published: September 2020

Kindergarteners’ creative dispositions are not only affected by their individual characteristics, but also by the organizational creative climate of their kindergartens. Using the Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM), this study examined a correlation between a 5-year-old child’s variables (e.g. child’s creativity and their perceptions of creative classroom climate), teacher’s variables (e.g. the types of kindergarten, teacher’s perceptions of organizational creative climate, and teacher’s creative dispositions) and child’s creative dispositions. The study sample included a total number of 20 kindergarten teachers who teach 5-year-old children and a total number of 195 kindergarteners selected from 10 exemplary kindergartens (i.e. kindergartens recognized by the Ministry of Education in Korea for their outstanding curriculum) and 10 average kindergartens of similar size. The findings of the study are as follows. First, the levels of children’s creative thinking and their creative dispositions both were higher in the exemplary kindergartens than those in the average kindergartens. Furthermore, in terms of the levels of teachers’ creative dispositions and their perceptions of the organizational creative climate, teachers working in the exemplary kindergartens scored higher than those in the average kindergartens. Next, despite that no direct correlations existed between kindergarteners’ creative dispositions and teachers’ creative dispositions, kindergarteners’ creative dispositions were affected by the types of the kindergartens (e.g. the outstanding curriculum of the exemplary kindergartens) and teachers’ perceptions of organizational creative climate. In conclusion, this study indicates the significance of building an organizational creative climate of kindergartens not only for the children but for the teachers to foster children’s creative dispositions.
Social network characteristics are correlated with dietary patterns among middle aged and older South Asians living in the United States (U.S.)
Authors: Talegawkar Sameera A. , Lancki Nicola , Jin Yichen , Siddique Juned , Gadgil Meghana , Kanaya Alka M. , Schneider John A. , Van Horn Linda , De Koning Lawrence , Kandula Namratha R.
Published: September 2020

Background

Social and cultural norms, operating through social networks, may influence an individual’s dietary choices. We examined correlations between social network characteristics and dietary patterns among South Asians in the United States (U.S.)

Methods

Data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Social Network study were analyzed among 756 participants (mean age = 59 y standard deviation [SD] = 9 y; 44% women). A culturally adapted, validated food frequency questionnaire was used for dietary assessment. A posteriori dietary patterns using principal component analysis were named 1) animal protein, 2) fried snacks, sweets and high-fat dairy, and 3) fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. Social network characteristics were assessed using a standard egocentric approach, where participants (egos) self-reported data on perceived dietary habits of their network members. Partial correlations between social network characteristics and egos’ dietary patterns were examined.

Results

The mean social network size of egos was 4.2 (SD = 1.1), with high proportion of network members being family (72%), South Asian ethnicity (89%), and half having daily contact. Animal protein pattern scores were negatively correlated with fruits and cooked vegetables consumption of network. Fried snacks, sweets and high-fat dairy pattern scores were positively correlated with sugar-sweetened beverages, South Asian sweets, fried/fast foods and ghee (clarified butter) consumption of network. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes pattern scores were positively correlated with vegetables, fruits, and brown rice/quinoa consumption of network.

Conclusions

Network member characteristics and their perceived dietary behaviors were correlated with dietary patterns of egos. Dietary intervention studies among South Asians should consider social network characteristics as candidate components for dietary intervention.
An Investigation into the Relationship Between Heart Rate Recovery in Small-Sided Games and Endurance Performance in Male, Semi-professional Soccer Players
Authors: Reinhardt Lars , Schulze Stephan , Kurz Eduard , Schwesig René
Published: September 2020

Background

The ability to recover in the shortest possible time plays an important role especially in intermittent sports such as soccer. Evidence suggests that a well-developed endurance performance has positive effects on the repeated-sprint ability and thus also on the short-term recovery. However, it has not been clarified whether these relationships still exist in a soccer-specific situation. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ability of semi-professional soccer players to recover during standardized small-sided games (SSGs) as an endurance performance indicator.

Methods

Eighteen male semi-professional soccer players (age, 23.5 ± 3.7 years) performed an incremental treadmill test (ITT) to determine their running velocity and heart rate at a fixed lactate threshold of 4 mmol L−1 (v4). Two days later, the players carried out six bouts of 4 vs. 4 SSGs (duration, 90 s; load to rest ratio, 1:1). A GPS-based tracking system was used to determine distances covered at four fixed speed zones (i.e., < 7.2 km/h, 7.2–14.4 km/h, 14.4–19.8 km/h, > 19.8 km/h) and total distance covered during the SSGs. Furthermore, the frequency of occurrence of accelerations (> 1.54 m s−2) was calculated. SSGs’ internal load was quantified by average heart rate and blood lactate concentration after the SSGs. Their recovery ability was evaluated using heart rate recovery (HRR) after the last bout of the SSGs.

Results

A very large correlation (r = − .91) with an explained variance of 84% was found between HRR and v4. Further, a better performance in the ITT was also related with a higher number of accelerations executed during SSGs (r = .60). The total distance and distances in predefined speed zones did not show any association to v4.

Conclusions

This study showed a strong relationship between HRR after standardized 4 vs. 4 SSGs and the soccer players’ endurance performance in a laboratory setting. Thus, besides being associated with endurance capacity, v4 seems sufficient to evaluate the sport-specific ability to recover in soccer players.