bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selenium Yeast Mitigates Diquat-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rooster Testicles and Preserves Reproductive Performance
Authors: Xiong Ningna , Liu Sili , Hu Wei , Liu Yamei , Ding Xiang , Wu Bingyan , Ling Yiqiang , Fang Manxin , Liu Ben , Zheng Lucheng , Zheng Wenya
Published: October 2023

Background:Diquat (DQ) is a pro-oxidant that generates free radicals in cells through redox reactions, leading to the induction of oxidative stress. It is widely utilized in agricultural production across many countries. During the processes of growth and reproduction, poultry are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress. Selenium yeast (SeY) serves as an organic selenium source characterized by high activity and low toxicity, imparting antioxidant effects. The objective of this study was to assess the protective effects of SeY against DQ-induced oxidative stress in rooster testicles and its impact on reproductive performance. A cohort of 60 healthy Kangle yellow roosters participated in this investigation. These roosters were randomly and equally divided into four groups: the control group, the DQ group, the SeY and DQ group, and the SeY group.
Results: The results demonstrated that SeY pretreatment mitigated DQ-induced oxidative damage in the testes. This mitigation encompassed the alleviation of inhibited spermatogenesis, reduced spermatogenic cell abundance, decreased expression of genes related to testosterone synthesis, and amelioration of impaired reproductive performance. Specifically, SeY pretreatment counteracted DQ-induced oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway, enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and reducing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, SeY pretreatment attenuated DQ-induced spermatogonia apoptosis by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins, including Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, and NF-κB. Additionally, SeY restored the proliferative capacity of spermatogenic cells by promoting the expression of the proliferation-related protein Ki67.
Conclusions: The aforementioned findings signify that SeY effectively safeguards the testes against DQ-induced damage through mechanisms involving the reduction of oxidative stress, inhibition of apoptosis, promotion of proliferation, and the preservation of reproductive performance in roosters. This study lays a solid theoretical foundation for future research aimed at safeguarding the reproductive health of male poultry exposed to agricultural pesticides.
Mechanisms of Intermittent theta-burst stimulation attenuating nerve injury after ischemic reperfusion in rats through endoplasmic reticulum stress and ferroptosis
Authors: Shen Xin-Ya , Zhang Xing-Yu , Han Ping-Ping , Zhao Yi-Ning , Bi Xia
Published: October 2023

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) exerts neuroprotective effects early in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Intermittent theta-brust stimulation (iTBS), a more time-efficient modality of rTMS, improves the efficiency without at least decreasing the efficacy of the therapy. iTBS elevates cortical excitability, and in recent years it has become increasingly common to apply iTBS to patients in the early post-IS period. However, little is known about the neuroprotective mechanisms of iTBS. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and ferroptosis have been shown to be involved in the development of I/R injury. We aimed to investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms by which iTBS attenuates neurological injury after I/R in rats.
METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated group, MCAO/R group, and MCAO/R+iTBS group, and were stimulated with iTBS 36 hours after undergoing middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or sham-operated. The expression of ERS, ferroptosis, and apoptosis-related markers was subsequently detected by western blot assays. We also investigated the mechanism by which iTBS attenuates nerve injury after ischemic reperfusion in rats by using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) and the balance beam test to measure nerve function.
RESULTS: iTBS performed early in I/R injury attenuated the levels of ERS, ferroptosis, and apoptosis, and improved neurological function, including mNSS and balance beam experiments. It is suggested that this mode of stimulation reduces the cost per treatment by several times without compromising the efficacy of the treatment and could be a practical and less costly intervention.
Awake prone positioning improves ventilation distribution in patients with acute respiratory failure: a prospective physiological study
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Chen Changxing , Zhao Zhanqi , Deng Puyu , Zhang Chenchen , Zhang Yu , Lv Hui , Chen Daonan , Xie Hui , Wang Ruilan , Road Wujin
Published: October 2023

Background:
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, prone positioning has been widely applied for non-intubated, spontaneously breathing patients. Many clinical studies have shown that awake prone positioning (APP) can reduce the intubation rate and help improving the prognosis of patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (ARF), but its physiological mechanism is still unknown. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of APP on lung ventilation in patients with moderate to severe ARF, trying to reveal the effects on ventilation distribution and oxygenation in non-intubated patients.
Measurements:
The study included patients with ARF (PaO2/FiO2 < 200mmHg or SpO2/FiO2 < 235) treated with high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNC). EIT measurements were performed in the supine position (T0), 0.5 h after the start of APP (T1) and at 0.5 h returning to supine position after the APP (T2).
Results:
Based on EIT measurements, it was observed that the distribution of ventilation was more uniform after prone positioning, and prone positioning significantly improved the ventilation of dorsal regions. Ventilation redistributed from the ventral to dorsal area (48.77% vs 54.79% vs 50.34%, P=0.030), global inhomogeneity (GI) index decreased significantly after the end of prone positioning therapy (48.17% vs 42.60% vs 28.21%, P=0.049), regional ventilation delay (RVD) changes are not obvious (5.24% vs 4.47% vs 4.35%, P=0.794).
Conclusions:
Awake prone positioning can improve ventilation distribution and homogeneity of lung ventilation assessed by electrical impedance tomography in non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure.
The central expression of connexin 36 and 43 in rat animal models of trait and state anxiety
Authors: Alizadeh Mohammadreza , Motaghi Sahel , sirchi Mahya Moradi , Abbasnejad Mehdi , Mahani Saeed Esmaeili
Published: October 2023

Purpose
There are few studies on the role of gap junctions in anxiety. The Gap junctions are intercellular channels and their subunit is connexin (CX). The specific isoforms of connexins for neurons and astrocytes are (CX36) and (CX43). Here, we examined the gene expression of these connexins in animal models of trait and state anxiety.
Methods
The animal grouping was as follows: 1) control group, 2) trait anxiety group in which the rats were placed in the elevated plus maze (EPM) 3) diazepam+ trait anxiety group 4) state anxiety group, in which the animals were placed in the (EPM) after tolerating 120 minutes of isolation 5) diazepam + state anxiety group. Using a real time PCR technique, we examined the gene expression of (CX36) and (CX43) in the ventral hippocampus (v Hip), basolateral amygdala (BLA), and medial prefrontal cortex (m PC).
Results
Data showed that the anxiety of animals in the state anxiety group was significantly higher than the trait anxiety group (p < 0.05). In the state anxiety group, gene expression of (CX36) was lower in (m PC) and (BLA) compared to the control and trait anxiety groups (p < 0.01). The expression of (CX43) in (BLA) and (v Hip) was also lower than in the control and trait anxiety groups.
Conclusions
This study shows (CX36) and (CX43) reduction in the mentioned structures increases anxiety and the role of these connexins in the state anxiety is more prominent than trait anxiety.
Mechanism of Bushen Guchi Pill in the Treatment of Periodontitis Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Yang Lina , Zhai Yuhong , Gao Ying , Shan Qiusheng , Chen Li
Published: October 2023

Periodontitis is an oral disease caused by chronic inflammation, which not only damages the periodontal tissue structure but also is associated with some systemic diseases. Clinical treatment is only through symptomatic treatment and cannot fundamentally treat the disease. Bushen Guchi Pill (BGP), as a compound arrangement of conventional Chinese medication, incorporates a positive therapeutic effect on periodontitis, however, the helpful component is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of BGP in periodontitis treatment based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, network pharmacology, and molecular docking technology. The beneficial components and drug targets of BGP were screened out from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Search for disease targets of periodontitis from the DisGeNET database, Gene Cards database, and GEO database. The disease target and drug action target overlap as candidate targets. The "Drug-Active composition-Candidate target" network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed by Cytoscape software, and the candidate targets were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Finally, molecular docking was performed by AutoDockVina and PyMOL.189 active compounds of BGP, 283 presumed drug targets of active ingredients, and 1056 periodontitis-related disease targets were identified and 89 candidate targets between BGP and periodontitis were found. IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, PTGS2, DPP4, ACHE, PPARG, CCL2, IL-1α, and PTGS1 were identified as core targets. Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Naringenin, Wogonin and Formononetin are the core composition of the drug. The main pathways in BGP treating periodontitis include the IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. This experiment clarified for the first time the active compositions, therapeutic targets, and action pathways of BGP in treating periodontitis, which provided a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of BGP in the treatment of periodontitis.
Transthyretin-related familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy with spinal cord damage: A case report
Authors: Liu Hailin , Huang Chao , Du Yanjiao , Liu Jiacheng , Ren Xiangyang , Wang Huilin , Ye Jingna , Zhou Haitao , Duan Zhihui
Published: October 2023

Transthyroxin protein-related familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by TTR gene mutation. Peripheral and autonomic nerve damage is the main disease. With the progression of the disease, heart, lung, kidney, eye and other organs are often involved. TTR gene c.148G > A (P.Vir30met) mutation is more common among known mutations, but this type of FAP is rarely involved in the spinal cord. A case of TTR-FAP with spinal cord damage was reported in this paper. This case is A late-onset sporadic patient with peripheral neuropathy with typical sensorimotor and autonomic nerve damage, combined with multiple site damage of heart, kidney, heart failure, and spinal cord injury. Color cardiac ultrasonography showed typical FAP cardiomyopathy, and gene test showed heterozygous mutation of exon 2 c.148G > A (P.AL30met). TTR-FAP with myelopathy was diagnosed. TTR-FAP is a rare disease, especially when combined with spinal cord symptoms, it is difficult to diagnose early. Echocardiography is a non-invasive, repeatable method to evaluate cardiac characteristics and function of cardiac amyloidosis, and genetic testing plays a crucial role in diagnosis.
Predictive Value of Red Cell Distribution Width in Prognosis of Patients with Anterior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Relationship with Hospital Mortality
Authors: Bodagh Haleh , Banisefid Erfan , Yousefzadeh Asma , Bodagh Mohammad bagher , Moghaddamziabari Seyedehyasmin , Sakhaei Arshiya , Khiavi Shima Mosadeghi , Boudagh Shabnam , Ghanivash Amin
Published: October 2023

Introduction and objective: The clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI) requires a rigorous assessment of the patient's medical history and with evidence of myocardial necrosis obtaind indirectly using biochemical, electrocardiographic, or imaging methods. Normally, the disorder of the blood supply to the coronary arteries and its disproportion with the needs of the myocardium leads to ischemia, hypoxia and finally necrosis of the myocardium. In almost all patients, the vascular pathology is atherosclerosis, usually associated with thrombosis and obstruction of one of the coronary arteries, and considering the increasing prevalence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STE-MI) and of healthcare costs and its clinical consequences, and the involvement various factors in the diagnosis of Ant patients STEMI In this study, we intend to investigate the diagnostic value of RDW in Ant STEMI patients as well as the effect of red cell distribution width (RDW) level on hospital and one-year mortality of patients diagnosed with Ant-STEMI who underwent primary angioplasty in Shahid Madani Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences so that we can evaluate them. The impact of the RDW level on the clinical outcome of these patients was determined and the necessary treatment decisions were made to improve the treatment outcome of these patients.
Materials and Methods: With referring to the archive of Shahid Madani Tabriz Hospital heart Center, the list of patients diagnosed with Ant-STEMI in Shahid Madani Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences was compiled and assembled, in 2018-2019 underwent primary angioplasty. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study and reviewed.
Results: In the conducted study, the amount of RDW with one-year mortality and non-hospital mortality was determined. There was no significant relationship, however, with hospital complications such as heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Angio hematoma, gastrointestinal bleeding and stent thrombosis had a significant relationship.
Conclusion: We found that RDW is not a reliable prognostic factor for mortality in ant-STEMI patients.
Development of Chemical and Mechanical Acceleration Stress Test Method for PEMFC Polymer Membranes
Authors: Oh Sohyeong , Lim Daehyeon , Han Yoohan , Lee Seung-tae , Yoo Dong-geun , Park Kwon Pil
Published: October 2023

To improve the durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell polymer membranes, it is important to evaluate their durability in a short time. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) presented the AST protocol, a degradation method that simultaneously performs electrochemical and mechanical degradation. The AST protocol has several problems such as long evaluation time, electrode degradation due to open circuit voltage changes, and difficulty in determining whether the durability of the polymer membrane is electrochemically or mechanically weaker. Based on the DOE accelerated stress test protocol, we supplied O2 instead of air to the cathode, increased the drying time, distinguished and improved electrochemical/mechanical evaluation methods. The improved AST protocol reduced the evaluation time of the Nafion XL membrane electrode assembly by approximately 3 times or more, and the degradation of the electrode catalyst was also reduced by 1/3. In addition, it was confirmed that the polymer membrane exhibited weaker mechanical durability than electrochemical; hence, it was possible to ascertain the cause of the degradation, such that the durability of the polymer membrane can be evaluated more accurately.
Assessing the Impact of Dental Restorative Materials on Fibroblast Cells: An Immunohistochemical and ELISA Analysis
Authors: Duzyol Mustafa , Bayram Pinar , Duzyol Esra , Karamese Selina Aksak
Published: October 2023

Introduction: In this study, our aim was to investigate the effects of restorative materials such as composite, compomer and glass ionomer, which are frequently used in dentistry, on L929 fibroblast cells by evaluating the oxidative stress parameters, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis markers.
Methods: L929 fibroblast cells were cultured, and dental filling materials were applied in two doses (50 and 100 µl). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for experimental groups with Anti-Bax and Anti-Caspase 9 antibodies. Then, ELISA technique was used to detect the level of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, IL-1-beta, IL-6, IL-10, LPO and CAT.
Results: In the light of the data, the examined dental filling materials were effective on increasing the TGF-beta, IL-10, LPO and CAT levels, and decreasing the TNF-alpha, IL-1-beta, and IL-6 levels. The histological micrographs were also support the issues. When the levels of H-score in Caspase 9 labeled micrographs were evaluated, the mean of the control group was lower than the mean of the experimental groups.
Discussion: Biocompatibility varies according to the content of the material, the amount of residual monomer, and its solubility. Although all the experimental groups have cytotoxic effects, the least effect is seen in the Omnichroma group.
Functional and mechanistic studies of a phytogenic formulation, Shrimp Best, in growth performance and Vibriosis in whiteleg shrimp
Authors: Lee Yi-San , Umam Khotibul , Kuo Tien-Fen , Yang Yu-Liang , Feng Ching-Shan , Yang Wen-Chin
Published: October 2023

Climate change and disease threaten shrimp farming. Here, we conducted a functional and mechanistic study of the administration of a phytogenic formulation, Shrimp Best (SB), to whiteleg shrimp, and assessed their health and growth performance. First, SB was found to increase shrimp body weight by 2.75 to 20.93% and decreased feed conversion ratio by 8–21% compared to control shrimp at 28 days post feeding in aquaria. The data were verified by field trials. Next, we tested the effect of SB on vibriosis in shrimp. SB protected against Vibrio parahaemolyticus as evidenced by survival rate, bacterial load, and hepatopancreatic pathology in shrimp. Finally, we explored the likely mechanism of SB for growth performance and anti-Vibrio protection in shrimp. We initially examined gut microbiota in control shrimp and shrimp fed with SB. The 16S rDNA sequencing data showed that SB increased 6 probiotic genera and decreased 6 genera of pathogenic bacteria in shrimp. Furthermore, Lactobacillus johnsonii, L. reuteri and V. parahaemolyticus were identified from shrimp guts using a serial dilution culture and mass spectrometry. Consistently, polymerase chain reaction data confirmed that SB increased the proportion of L. johnsonii and decreased that of V. parahaemolyticus in shrimp guts. To dissect the relationship among SB, Lactobacillusand Vibrio, we investigated the in vitro regulation of probiotics and pathogenic bacteria by SB. SB at ≥ 0.25 μg/mL promoted growth of L. johnsonii whilst SB at ≥ 200 μg/mL was able to inhibit V. parahaemolyticus growth. Additionally, antagonistic studies revealed that L. johnsonii and its culture supernatant could inhibit V. parahaemolyticus but not vice versa. Furthermore, five anti-Vibrio metabolites, identified from the supernatant of L. johnsonii using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry were up-regulated by SB. This anti-Vibriomechanism involved destruction of the bacterial membrane. In parallel, we also identified linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and stearic acid as active compounds from SB. Overall, this work demonstrated that SB improved growth performance and vibriosis in shrimp by regulation of gut microbiota, suggesting that SB is a promising phytogenic for shrimp growth and disease control.
Impact of some heavy metal's accumulation in different organs on Fish quality from Bardawil Lake and human health risk assessment
Authors: Zaghloul Ghada Y. , Eissa Hoda A. , Zaghloul Amira Y. , Kelany Mahmoud S. , Hamed Mohamed A. , El-Moselhy Khalid M.
Published: October 2023

Bardawil Lake is a unique aquatic ecosystem that provides a habitat for various fish and other aquatic organisms. This study aimed to analyze the quality of fish species to make sure this lake, like the rest of the other Egyptian lakes, suffers from the deterioration of fish product quality due to the accumulation of some heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn) in various tissues from fish species that were caught from this lake. 35 fish samples were caught during spring, 2018; from seven different species: Mugil cephalus, Liza auratus, Sparus aurata, Dicentrarchus labrax, Siganus rivulatus, Anguilla angilla, and Solae Solea. The Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods using a spectrophotometer determined the biochemical composition. In contrast, atomic absorption spectrometry was employed to determine the heavy metals expressed by µg/g wet weight. Results exposed that the accumulation of essential micronutrient (Cu, Zn) content was higher than toxic elements (Cd & Pb) in muscles to Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Muscles < gills < liver in all metals except Pb muscles < liver < gills. The metals studied in the muscles were lower than those set by the WHO, and the EU standard. The carcinogenic risk with lower allowable limits of 1x10-6 to 1x10-4 in both normal and high consumption groups; target and total target hazard quotients (THQ & HI) in muscles were <1. The biochemical composition level was highest in the liver, except for protein, which was highest in muscle for all fish species. There is no evidence of harmful contaminants in the muscular tissue of the fish sampled from Bardawil Lake. However, customers should be aware that health concerns may be associated with eating too much fish
The potential mechanism of Bu Shen Zhuang Jin Decoction in the treatment of anti-osteoporosis based on mass spectrometry analysis-network pharmacology-molecular docking
Authors: Zhou Shibo , Zhong Wenqing , Yu Xing , Li Wenhao , Zhao Dingyan , Xiong Yang , Ma Yukun , Zhao He
Published: October 2023

Background To investigate the potential mechanism of Bu Shen Zhuang Jin Decoction(BSZJD) in the treatment of anti-osteoporosis based on mass spectrometry analysis-network pharmacology-molecular docking.Methods We used Waters Synapt G2-Si Qtof high-resolution mass spectrometry and Unifi software to analyze the chemical constituents of BSZJD. Querying the targets of ingredients through the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechANism of Traditional Chinese Medicines (BATMAN-TCM). GeneCards, OMIM databases were searched for osteoporosis targets. Venny online analysis tool was used to obtain ingredients-disease common targets, construct drug-ingredient-target-disease network by Cytoscape software, and screen core ingredients based on node degree value. Based on disease-ingredient common targets, STRING database and Cytoscape software constructed protein-protein interaction networks and assigned core targets based on node degree value. Metascape was analyzed for GO and KEGG enrichment. The main ingredients and core targets were molecularly docked and the results were visualized by Pymol.Results There are 107 active ingredients in BSZJD. AKT1, ALB, INS, IL6, and TNF were from the 157 targets identified by the protein-protein interaction network. The PI3K-AKT and osteoclast differentiation signaling pathways were identified as possible anti-osteoporosis pathways by the enrichment analysis. Molecular docking confirms that the core ingredients and the core targets have strong binding capability.Conclusion Through mass spectrometry analysis-network pharmacology-molecular docking, we speculate that the BSZJD may play an anti-osteoporotic role by modulating the PI3K/AKT and osteoclast differentiation signaling pathways, which may provide a new idea for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Zinc Recovery from Alkaline Batteries Using Cyanex 272 Impregnated on Polyurethane Foam
Authors: Adebayo Matthew , Adebayo Albert , Otunla Oluwaseun
Published: October 2023

In this study, zinc which is an important industrial metal and the major component of alkaline battery was recovered from spent alkaline batteries using a Cyanex 272 (solvent) impregnated on polyurethane foam (PUF). The impregnation of Cyanex 272 on PUF was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The relevant factors affecting recovery of zinc such as pH, concentration of the solvent, dosage of the absorbent, temperature, and flow rate were studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra showed that Cyanex 272 can be easily impregnated on polyurethane foam. The optimum conditions for this Zn recovery are: pH of 4, extractant concentration of 0.4 M, adsorbent dosage of 5 g, temperature of about 338 K and extraction time of 60 min. Avrami fractional-order kinetic model is the best model for kinetic study while Bohart-Adams model is the best model for the data of the columnar study. The result showed that solvent impregnation method is an effective technique of zinc recovery from spent alkaline batteries; about 95.7% Zn was recovered from the sample after elution with 6 M HCl. Hence, Zn can be effectively recovered from solution (spent batteries) using PUF impregnated with Cyanex 272.
Prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in wild rodents near natural water bodies from Sarawak, Borneo
Authors: Azmi Muhammad Amin Iman , William-Dee Julius , Morni Muhd Amsyari , Khan Faisal Ali Anwarali
Published: October 2023

The gut microbiota of wild rodents is characterised by high bacterial diversity that could be influenced by the surrounding environment. However, specific environmental features that directly influence the gut bacterial diversity of rodents remain relatively unknown. Natural water bodies could play a role in shaping the gut microbiota as rodents could act as a reservoir for the bacterial community that is present in water surfaces. Characterising the gut microbiome of wild rodents is essential as the transmission of pathogenic bacteria to human settlements could occur due to the synanthropic nature of the rodents. Rodent trappings and water quality assessments of nearby natural bodies were carried out in forested areas adjacent to human settlements across Sarawak, Borneo. Nanopore sequencing was performed on the extracted DNA from the collected faecal samples (n=16). 51 pathogenic bacterial genera, representing approximately 11% of the overall bacterial abundance, were detected from sequencing 16 rodent individuals from five distinct species. These bacteria could cause zoonotic diseases and includes the genera Clostridium, Klebsiella, and Helicobacter. Some bacterial species were also found to be commonly shared between study sites (e.g. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus). Correlation analysis revealed that only one genus (Enterococcus) had significant correlation with water quality (BOD). This study highlights the potential public health risks that could be caused by the transmission of pathogenic bacteria to nearby human settlements by rodents as the host.
Reassessing Estrogen Receptor Expression Thresholds for Breast Cancer Prognosis in HER2-negative Patients Using Shape Restricted Modeling
Authors: Dong Wenli , Fujii Takeo , Ning Jing , Iwase Toshiaki , Qin Jing , Ueno Naoto T , Shen Yu
Published: October 2023

Purpose
To assess the dynamic link between continuous estrogen receptor (ER) expression and long-term clinical outcomes in non-metastatic breast cancer and to identify the ideal cutoff value for ER expression to optimize endocrine therapy use.
Methods
The study included 3055 female patients with stage II or III HER2-negative breast cancer. The primary outcomes were time to recurrence or death (TTR) and overall survival (OS). We used a novel shape-restricted Cox model to determine the desirable ER expression cutoff to predict breast cancer prognoses. Our novel model allows ER as a continuous variable, utilizing a flexible monotone-shaped Cox regression to assess its association with survival outcomes holistically.
Results
The shape-restricted Cox model identified 10% ER as the preferred cutoff to predict TTR. The finding was confirmed by the log-rank test and standard Cox model that patients with ER ≥ 10% had TTR benefit over ER < 10% (log-rank p < 0.001). No OS or TTR benefit of adjuvant endocrine therapy was observed in patients with 1% ≤ ER < 10% (HR 0.877, 95% CI 0.481–1.600, p = 0.668 for TTR and HR 0.698, 95% CI 0.337–1.446, p = 0.333 for OS).
Conclusions
Using the shape-restricted Cox model, this study suggests a potential preferred threshold of 10% for predicting TTR. The findings could assist physicians in effectively weighing the benefits and risks of adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients with ER < 10% disease, particularly in cases involving severe adverse events. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate the recommended cutoff value.
STAP-2 facilitates insulin signaling through binding to CAP/c-Cbl and regulates adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Sekine Yuichi , Kikkawa Kazuna , Honda Sachie , Sasaki Yuto , Kawahara Shoya , Mizushima Akihiro , Fujimuro Masahiro , Oritani Kenji , Matsuda Tadashi
Published: October 2023

Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is an adaptor molecule involved in several cellular signaling cascades. Here, we attempted to identify novel STAP-2 interacting molecules, and identified c-Cbl associated protein (CAP) as a binding protein through the C-terminal proline-rich region of STAP-2. Expression of STAP-2 increased the interaction between CAP and c-Cbl, suggesting that STAP-2 bridges these proteins and enhances complex formation. CAP/c-Cbl complex is known to regulate GLUT4 translocation in insulin signaling. STAP-2 overexpressed human hepatocyte Hep3B cells showed enhanced GLUT4 translocation after insulin treatment. Elevated levels of Stap2 mRNA have been observed in 3T3-L1 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) during adipocyte differentiation. The differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes was highly promoted by retroviral overexpression of STAP-2. In contrast, STAP-2 knockout (KO) MEFs exhibited suppressed adipogenesis. The increase in body weight with high-fat diet feeding was significantly decreased in STAP-2 KO mice compared to WT animals. These data suggest that the expression of STAP-2 correlates with adipogenesis. Thus, STAP-2 is a novel regulatory molecule that controls insulin signal transduction by forming a c-Cbl/STAP-2/CAP ternary complex.
Superior Primary Stability of a Knotless Double-Row Construct Compared to Mason-Allen Repair for Anatomical Refixation of Gluteal Tendons – Biomechanical Human Cadaver Study
Authors: Twardy Vanessa , Warnecke Daniela , Banke Ingo Jörg , Scheele Christian , von Eisenhart-Rothe Rüdiger , Harrasser Norbert , Prodinger Peter M. , Roth Martina , Wijdicks Coen
Published: October 2023

Background
Hip abductor tendon tears are still an underrated diagnosis. This may lead to inefficient conservative therapy with only temporary pain relief and potential permanent disability. In clinical settings surgical treatments especially double-row repair techniques show good short-term results. However, sufficient biomechanical data are still lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to prove the superiority of knotless double-row (Hip Bridge) repair over still frequently used standard Mason-Allen technique in a cadaver study.
Methods
Gluteus minimus and medius were released in 12 fresh-frozen human cadaveric specimens and reattached to their footprints either with transosseous Mason-Allen (MA) or knotless double-row Hip Bridge (HB) technique. HB consisted of two proximal PEEK anchors, each preloaded with double-V shaped tapes, crossed, and distally fixated with two additional anchors. Femurs were fixated in a custom-made sample holder and gluteal muscles were clamped using a cryo-jaw. The construct underwent a cyclic loading test between 10 and 125 N for 150 cycles at 2.5 Hz (preload 10 N), followed by a pull-to-failure test. Failure mode and elongation were determined, the latter by a 3D optical measurement system. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-tailed t-test with a significance level set to p ≤0.05.
Results
HB resulted in significantly higher ultimate failure loads (339.1 ± 144.4 N) than MA (209.6 ± 62.1 N, p = 0.0381). HB failed ultimately only due to tendon failure, while MA showed different failure modes: tendon failure (1/6), bone cutting (4/6), and muscle rupture (1/6). During prior cyclic loading, the calculated final plastic elongation was 4.4 ± 0.5 mm for MA and 3.4 ± 1.4 mm for HB (p = 0.0731). During pull-to-failure testing, stiffness of 59.7 ± 12.5 N/mm and 66.8 ± 18.4 N/mm were observed for MA and HB (p = 0.247).
Conclusion
Hip Bridge technique provides a biomechanical stability superior to the standard Mason-Allen repair technique showing significantly higher ultimate failure loads and a trend of less elongation. A reason for this might be greater contact restoration of the anatomical footprint, a crucial advantage in the treatment of the typically weakened tendons and bones of elderly patients.
Level of Evidence
Laboratory study.
Novel Solution Proposal for Internet of Things (IoT) Security-Based Cooperative Radio Resources System
Authors: Hamrouni Chafaa
Published: October 2023

The deployment technologies are expected to spread more widely to support the long-term evolution of advanced (LTE-A) small-cells. Small-cell users indoors can take advantage of robust connections. This study focuses on maintaining the performance control systems to enable effective monitoring and administration of intelligent building operations since security services and access control have grown in importance in systems for smart buildings. It used a cooperative Radio Resource allocation approach for LTE-A systems. Within smart buildings, the goal is to improve Quality of Service (QoS) and reduce interference from users and small cells. This paper proposed an approach to effectively accommodating active mobile users within small cells. This study used an innovative approach for selecting and allocating physical resource blocks to enhance resource use. The efficacy of this technique was substantiated by research findings, which were based on simulation results. These results highlight the achievement of optimal system throughput while maintaining the QoS for users.
Subcuticular and biofilm microbiomes in Holothuria tubulosa and its potential for denitrification
Authors: Martínez-Moreno Silke , León-Palmero Elizabeth , Pula Héctor , Cabello Ana María , Ferrera Isabel , Reche Isabel
Published: October 2023

Holothurians, as benthic invertebrates inhabiting the marine ecosystems, play a crucial function by actively processing organic detritus in the sediments. Previous works have provided evidence of holothurians capability to reduce nitrate and ammonium concentrations in aquaculture tanks. However, the mechanisms underlying this nitrogen decrease still needs to be elucidated and might be related to bacterial symbionts in the holothurians. Here we characterize the community of bacterial symbionts in the biofilm and subcuticle of Holothuria tubulosa and explored the presence of nitrification and denitrification genes. To characterize these bacterial symbionts, we extracted DNA and amplified the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. We obtained a notable contribution of Bacteroidota, Alphaproteobacteria (mostly Rhodobacterales), and Gammaproteobacteria (mostly Pseudomonadales) both within the biofilm and subcuticle of H. tubulosa. Subsequently, we tested the presence of specific genes encoding enzymes involved in nitrification (i.e., archaeal amoA and bacterial amoA) and denitrification processes (i.e., nirS and nosZ). Our results confirm the presence of denitrification genes in the holothurian biofilms. These findings indicate that the holothurians house a diverse community of bacterial symbionts, which includes species with the potential for nitrogen removal. Therefore, holothurian holobionts may play a multifaceted ecological role, both processing organic detritus and reducing nitrogen levels in coastal areas. These roles could be extended to sustainable aquaculture, making them valuable ecosystem engineers with significant implications for ecosystem and aquaculture health.
Squalene Recovery from Uzen Oil Field Wastewater: a Novel Non-Biological Resource Potential
Authors: Suleimen Yerlan M. , Trofimov Alexander N. , Suleimen Raigul N. , Ashimbayeva Meruyert D. , Akbay Burkitkan , Baibekov Seidikasym N. , Tkenbayev Sultan M. , Talipbekov Abilseit D. , Tokay Tursonjan
Published: October 2023

Squalene (2,3-oxidosqualene), a critical precursor in the biosynthesis of cell membrane steroids, is enzymatically derived via squalene synthase in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Its remarkable physicochemical properties and potent antioxidant characteristics underlie its extensive application across multifarious sectors including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fragrance industries. Historically, squalene has been predominantly sourced from shark liver oil and select plant oils. However, contemporary sustainable considerations have spurred pioneering investigations into unconventional reservoirs. This study presents a pioneering endeavor wherein squalene is extracted from the wastewater of Kazakhstan's Uzen oil field, showcasing a distinctive non-biological resource that holds profound implications across scientific and industrial domains. In this study, wastewater samples from the Uzen oil field were collected, extracted, and the composition of volatile dissolved compounds in the extract was investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Notably, the predominant constituents were hydrocarbons, which is expected. Intriguingly, the analysis also revealed substantial quantities of squalene—a natural biomarker of oil. This unexpected discovery underscores the remarkable potential of this unconventional source.
MXene-based pressure sensor with ultrahigh sensitivity in a small pressure range for voiceless speaking and abnormal writing recognition
Authors: Du Yuzhang , Lu Wenxuan , Liu Yichen , Yu Rui , Wu Panzhen , Kong Jie
Published: October 2023

Language and characters contain rich information and play an important role in daily communication. Although flexible pressure sensors have aroused extensive attention in information interaction, the application in the special groups who characterized with “voiceless” and/or “dysgraphia” cannot normally speak and/or write is usually ignored. Herein, a high-performance flexible pressure sensor was proposed to learn the expression content from special groups through recognizing the voiceless speaking and abnormal writing. Thanks for the enhanced interfacial interactions and air gaps constructed in device, the as-prepared sensor possesses ultrahigh sensitivity in a small pressure range (S = 45.95 kPa− 1, P < 1 kPa) and exhibits an outstanding sensitivity to the slight pressure resulted from voice and writing. In addition, high stability, good flexibility, short response time of 123 ms, and excellent durability over 2000 cycles are also achieved. As the voice and writing detector, it can accurately recognize different voice signals and characters stroke order. Importantly, by comparing with the electrical signals obtained under normal speaking and writing conditions, the real expression content from the special groups can be well acquired. This high-performance pressure sensor, along with its unique structure designing, is expected to be widely used in human − computer interaction, health monitoring, and soft robotics.
Identification of candidate genes for adult plant stripe rust resistance transferred from Aegilops ventricosa 2NvS into wheat via fine mapping and transcriptome analysis
Authors: Wang Yuqi , Gao Mengru , Jiang Yunfeng , Huang Wuzhou , Zhao Xin , Zhu Wei , Li Hao , Wang Yi , Zeng Jian , Wu Dandan , Wei Yuming , Zhou Yonghong , Zheng Youliang , Zhang Peng , Chen Guoyue , kang Houyang
Published: October 2023

The 2NvS translocation from Aegilops ventricosa, known for its resistance to various diseases, has been pivotal in global wheat breeding for more than three decades. Here we identified an adult plant resistance (APR) gene in the 2NvS segment in wheat line K13-868. Through fine mapping in a segregating near-isogenic line (NIL) derived population of 6,389 plants, the candidate region for the APR gene was narrowed down to between 19.36 Mb and 33 Mb in the Jagger v1.1 genome. Transcriptome analysis in NILs strongly suggested that this APR gene conferred resistance to stripe rust by triggering plant innate immune responses. Two disease resistance-associated genes within the candidate region, TraesJAG2A01G041000 and TraesJAG2A01G046200, exhibited a stronger response to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) infection at the adult plant stage than at the seedling stage, indicating that they could be potential candidates for the resistance gene. Additionally, we developed a co-dominant InDel marker, InDel_31.05, for detecting this APR gene. Applying this marker showed that over one-half of the wheat varieties approved in 2021 and 2022 in Sichuan province, China, carry this gene. Agronomic trait evaluation of NILs indicated that the 2NvS segment effectively mitigated the negative effects of stripe rust on yield without affecting other important agronomic traits. This study provided valuable insights for cloning and breeding through the utilization of the APR gene present in the 2NvS segment.
Nano-superhydrophilic and bioactive surface in poor bone environment. Part 1: transition from primary to secondary stability. A controlled clinical trial.
Authors: Luigi Canullo , Roberta Iacono , Maria Menini , Paolo Pesce , Sculean Anton , Fabbro Massimo Del
Published: October 2023

Objectives Bioactive surfaces were designed to increase the interaction between the surface and the cells. This may speed the biological stability and loading protocols.Materials and Methods 36 patients with D3-D4 bone density were recruited and allocated into two groups. 30 bioactive (test group) and 30 traditional (control group) surfaced implants were placed. Insertion torque value (ITV) insertion torque curve integral, ISQ measured at three timepoints (baseline-T0, 30 (T30) and 45 (T45) days after surgery), time of loading, and marginal bone loss (MBL) at 6 months were assessed.Results The mean ISQ at T0, T30, T45 were respectively 74.57 ± 7.85, 74.78 ± 7.31, 74.97 ± 6.34 in test group, and 77.12 ± 5.83, 73.33 ± 6.13, 73.44 ± 7.89 in control group, respectively. Data analysis showed significant differences between groups in ΔISQ at T0-T30 (p = 0.005) and T30-T45 (p = 0.012). Control group showed a significant decrease in ISQ at T30 (p = 0.01) and T45 (p = 0.03) compared to baseline, while no significant change was observed in test group. Due to the stability of the ISQ curve, 26 test group and 23 control group implants were functionally loaded after 45 days. Conversely, due to the ISQ < 70 at T45, 4 test group implants and 1 control group implant were loaded after 90 days, and 6 control group implants were loaded after 180 days.Conclusions The bioactive surface showed better behavior in terms of implant stability in D3-D4 bone quality in the early stages of bone healing.
Risk of incidence and mortality of site-specific cancers in 3.8 million adults with periodontal disease and tooth loss
Authors: Lee Seung Yeon , Kim Kyae Hyung
Published: October 2023

Although studies have begun to suggest that periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of cancer, its association with site-specific cancer incidence and mortality has not been thoroughly investigated. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of a population of 3,845,280 using data from the National Health Examination in the Korean National Health Insurance Database from 2006 to 2019 and National Statistics Data from 2010 to 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate the association between periodontal disease and site-specific cancer risk of incidence and mortality with adjustment of multiple confounders. After 39,540,029 person-years of follow-up, we identified 181,754 new cancer cases and 37,135 cancer deaths. Tooth loss was significantly associated with stomach cancer [adjusted hazard ratios (aHR): 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-1.11], colorectal cancer (1.13, 1.09-1.16), liver cancer (1.09, 1.04-1.14), and lung cancer (1.04, 1.01-1.08) incidence. Tooth loss was significantly associated with mortality for total cancer (1.12, 1.09-1.14), stomach cancer (1.21, 1.12-1.31), colorectal cancer (1.14, 1.05-1.23), liver cancer (1.16, 1.09-1.23), lung cancer (1.08, 1.03-1.13), and prostate cancer (1.24, 1.04-1.47) mortality. Our data suggest that periodontal disease could increase cancer risk of incidence and mortality, especially gastrointestinal cancers.
Mismatch repair genes as prognosis biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yang Chen , Li Xiaoqiang , Zhuang Chiyue , Du Jiahui , Wang XinQi , Deng Bicheng , Lu Sihan , Wang Weijie , Xu Ping , Liu Song-Bai
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Great progress was made in early diagnosis and in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in most countries, but the mortality rate is still very high. The outcome for HCC patients is influenced not just by the traits of the tumor, but also by its cause, liver functionality, and individual variations, leading to past models not yielding optimal outcomes. Mismatch repair is highly related to the prognosis and progression of liver cancer. However, the prediction model of liver cancer progression by mismatch repair pathway-related genes has not been established. Methods: In this study, mismatch repair pathway-related genes were screened from the TCGA and ICGC databases. We employed both univariate analysis and lasso Cox regression analysis to pinpoint eight genes and formulate a risk score. The model's clinical utility was subsequently confirmed through Cox regression analyses. Results: We chose eight genes (YBX1, PSMD14, NOP58, RUVBL1, HMMR, KPNA2, BSG, and IRAK1) from the set of mismatch repair genes and utilized them to create a prognostic risk factor, which was subsequently validated by using TCGA database. The results indicated a big difference in prognosis between risk groups, categorized based on median risk coefficient. Additionally, we employed a nomogram to predict overall survival. Furthermore, when we conducted functional enrichment analysis, it revealed a connection between the high-risk group and cell cycle process and DNA replication synthesis. Further analysis also suggested that differences in prognosis between various risk groups could be attributed to an immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment. Discussion: The prognostic model composed of 8 mismatch repair pathway-related genes has potential application value and good predictive performance. The related genes may be biomarkers for HCC treatment, which can provide new strategy in guiding the clinical prediction of prognosis.