bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on cardiac-metabolic risk factors in elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
Authors: Qorbani Mostafa , Zarei Maryam , Moradi Yousef , Appannah Geeta , Djalainia Shirin , Pourrostami Kumars , Ejtahed Hanieh-Sadat , Mahdavi-Gorabi Armita , Naderali Ebrahim Khalil , Khazdouz Maryam
Published: June 2022

Background

There has been a longstanding interest in the potential effect of vitamin D in preventing cardiac-metabolic diseases. However, there are divergent results regarding the impact of vitamin D supplementation (VDS) on managing cardiac-metabolic outcomes in the elderly population.

Material and method

We systematically searched electronic databases; Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, and ProQuest. We included all trials that evaluated the effect of VDS on cardiac-metabolic risk factors in the elderly population, which were published until 30 September 2021. The effects of VDS on cardiac-metabolic outcomes were assessed using standardized mean difference (SMD). A random-effect model was used to pool the SMD and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Result

The literature search identified 4409 studies, of which 12 trials met inclusion criteria. Results of random effect meta-analysis indicated a significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC) (SMD: − 0.14 mg/dl; 95% CI: − 0.25, − 0.02) and triglyceride (TG) (SMD: − 0.45 mg/dl; 95% CI: − 0.86, − 0.04) with VDS compared to the placebo. The subgroup analyses revealed that the reduction of TG in patients with diabetes and vitamin D deficiency was significant. Furthermore, short-term intervention (≤ 6 months) induced a significantly lower level of TG and insulin in comparison to longer duration (> 6 months).

Conclusion

The study suggests that VDS could improve insulin concentration and dyslipidemia in the elderly population. The systematic review was registered in Alborz university of medical sciences with 2060-01-03-1397 number and the Ethics council IR.ABZUMS.REC.1397.207 number.
De novo transcriptome assembly and annotation of the third stage larvae of the zoonotic parasite Anisakis pegreffii
Authors: Palomba Marialetizia , Libro Pietro , Di Martino Jessica , Rughetti Aurelia , Santoro Mario , Mattiucci Simonetta , Castrignanò Tiziana
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Anisakis pegreffii is a zoonotic parasite requiring marine organisms to complete its life-history. Human infection (anisakiasis) occurs when the third stage larvae (L3) are accidentally ingested with raw or undercooked infected fish or squids. A new de novo transcriptome of A. pegreffii was here generated aiming to provide a robust bulk of data to be used for a comprehensive "ready-to-use" resource for detecting functional studies on genes and gene products of A. pegreffii involved in the molecular mechanisms of parasite-host interaction.

Data description

A RNA-seq library of A. pegreffii L3 was here newly generated by using Illumina TruSeq platform. It was combined with other five RNA-seq datasets previously gathered from L3 of the same species stored in SRA of NCBI. The final dataset was analyzed by launching three assembler programs and two validation tools. The use of a robust pipeline produced a high-confidence protein-coding transcriptome of A. pegreffii. These data represent a more robust and complete transcriptome of this species with respect to the actually existing resources. This is of importance for understanding the involved adaptive and immunomodulatory genes implicated in the “cross talk” between the parasite and its hosts, including the accidental one (humans).
Utility of CD138/syndecan-1 immunohistochemistry for localization of plasmacytes is tissue-dependent in B6 mice
Authors: Meyerholz David K. , Leidinger Mariah R. , Goeken J. Adam , Businga Thomas R. , Akers Allison , Vizuett Sebastian , Kaemmer Courtney A. , Kohlmeyer Jordan L. , Dodd Rebecca D. , Quelle Dawn E.
Published: June 2022

Objective

Inflammation is present in many diseases and identification of immune cell infiltration is a common assessment. CD138 (syndecan-1) is a recommended immunohistochemical marker for human plasmacytes although it is also expressed in various epithelia and tumors. Similarly, CD138 is a marker for murine plasmacytes, but its tissue immunostaining is not well-defined. Endogenous CD138 expression is an important confounding factor when evaluating plasmacyte infiltration. We studied two plasmacyte markers (CD138 and Kappa light chains) for endogenous immunostaining in five organs and one tumor from B6 mice.

Results

Plasmacytes in Peyer’s patches were positive for CD138 and Kappa markers without endogenous immunostaining. Endogenous CD138 immunostaining was widespread in liver, kidney, lung and a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) versus regionalized immunostaining in skin and small intestine wall. Endogenous Kappa immunostaining was absent in all tissues except for plasmacytes. Tissues with widespread endogenous CD138 immunostaining were contrasted by absence of endogenous Kappa immunostaining. Here, plasmacytes would not be distinguished by CD138, but would be obvious by Kappa immunostaining. Our study suggests that utility of immunostaining for plasmacytes by CD138 is tissue dependent in mice. Additionally, Kappa immunostaining may be a useful alternative in mouse tissues with confounding endogenous CD138 immunostaining.
Checking the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Mini-Cog using a smartphone application
Authors: Saito Yoshinobu , Nakamura Sho , Tanaka Ayumi , Watanabe Ryo , Narimatsu Hiroto , Chung Ung-il
Published: June 2022

Objective

Cognitive decline is an important and well-documented health problem. The Mini-Cog, a simple cognitive function test, is recommended as a potential early cognitive screening tool. Kanagawa Prefecture, one of the largest prefectures in Japan, developed this self-testing application on a smartphone to enable a large number of residents to assess their cognitive function. This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Mini-Cog.

Results

Twenty men and 20 women aged 65–85 years were enrolled. Criterion-related validity of the method tested by professional staff was found to have an acceptable positive association. The test–retest reliability was lower than the clinically expected intraclass correlation coefficient value because of the inclusion of learning and order effects. If the Mini-Cog score of this application is low, the system is equipped with a function that advises the users on preventing cognitive decline, directing them to the appropriate services, and recommending visits to a medical institution. Therefore, the system can be used continuously as a tool for health behaviors and promotions.
Microplate bioassay to examine the effects of grapevine-isolated stilbenoids on survival of root knot nematodes
Authors: Wallis Christopher M.
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Root knot nematodes can be major pests in vineyards and cause significant yield losses over time. Control involves the use of different resistant grapevine rootstocks, but it remains unclear the mechanisms that such rootstocks possess to limit root knot nematode infections. Defense-associated compounds called stilbenoids, a type of phenolic compound, are present in relatively substantial amounts in grapevine root tissues. Therefore, experiments were performed to assess how different stilbenoid compounds impact nematode survival in microplate assays. Data generated were part of a larger effort to understand potential mechanisms that resistant grapevine rootstocks have to limit root knot infections. Data description: The percentage of surviving root knot nematodes was assessed 1, 3, and 5 days after J2 juveniles were placed into microplate wells amended with 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 ppm of piceid, ε-viniferin, a resveratrol trimer putatively identified as miyabenol C, or a putative mixture of resveratrol tetramers putatively identified as vitisin B and hopeaphenol. Both ε-viniferin and the resveratrol tetramers significantly reduced root knot survival at the higher concentrations. These data provide insight about one potential mechanism that grapevine rootstocks might possess to combat nematodes.
Reduced CSF orexin levels in rats and patients with systemic inflammation: a preliminary study
Authors: Ogawa Yasuhiro , Shimojo Nobutake , Ishii Akiko , Tamaoka Akira , Kawano Satoru , Inoue Yoshiaki
Published: June 2022

Objective

Sepsis is a lethal condition characterized by systemic inflammation and multiple organ failure; this condition was initially defined as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) due to infection. We previously reported that the hypothalamic neuropeptide orexin improved survival in a murine model of sepsis by mainly acting in the medullary raphe nucleus through orexin type-2 receptors. We hypothesized that orexin treatment enhances recovery from sepsis by reversing the reduction in orexin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We recently reported a case in which CSF orexin levels were reduced in a patient with sepsis. Herein, we attempted to further investigate CSF orexin levels in rats and patients with systemic inflammation. This patient study was a single-center, retrospective observational study.

Results

CSF orexin levels were low in rats with lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation. We enrolled 14 patients with meningitis/encephalitis. Six patients were diagnosed with SIRS, of whom 5 patients had infections (“sepsis” by the previous definition). CSF orexin levels were low in SIRS patients. The results support the hypothesis that orexin treatment enhances recovery from sepsis by reversing the reduction in CSF orexin levels.
Mitochondrial DNA methylation profiling of the human prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens: correlations with aging and drug use
Authors: Huang Chia-Hung , Chang Man-Chen , Lai Yung-Chun , Lin Chun-Yen , Hsu Cho-Hsien , Tseng Bo-Yuan , Hsiao Chuhsing Kate , Lu Tzu-Pin , Yu Sung-Liang , Hsieh Sung-Tsang , Chen Wei J.
Published: June 2022

Background

Despite the brain’s high demand for energy, research on its epigenetics focuses on nuclear methylation, and much of the mitochondrial DNA methylation remains seldom investigated. With a focus on the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), we aimed to identify the mitochondrial methylation signatures for (1) distinguishing the two brain areas, (2) correlating with aging, and (3) reflecting the influence of illicit drugs on the brain.

Result

We collected the brain tissue in the NAcc and the PFC from the deceased individuals without (n = 39) and with (n = 14) drug use and used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to cover cytosine sites in the mitochondrial genome. We first detected differential methylations between the NAcc and the PFC in the nonusers group (P = 3.89 × 10–9). These function-related methylation differences diminished in the drug use group due to the selective alteration in the NAcc. Then, we found the correlation between the methylation levels and the chronological ages in the nonusers group (R2 = 0.34 in the NAcc and 0.37 in the PFC). The epigenetic clocks in illicit drug users, especially in the ketamine users, were accelerated in both brain regions by comparison with the nonusers. Finally, we summarized the effect of the illicit drugs on the methylation, which could significantly differentiate the drug users from the nonusers (AUC = 0.88 in the NAcc, AUC = 0.94 in the PFC).

Conclusion

The mitochondrial methylations were different between different brain areas, generally accumulated with aging, and sensitive to the effects of illicit drugs. We believed this is the first report to elucidate comprehensively the importance of mitochondrial DNA methylation in human brain.
Safety, efficacy and biomarkers analysis of mesenchymal stromal cells therapy in ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on phase I and II RCTs
Authors: Wang Jianbao , Luo Fenbin , Suo Ye , Zheng Yuxin , Chen Kaikai , You Deyuan , Liu Yuqi
Published: June 2022

Background

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an emerging treatment, but most of the current trials of MSCs stay in the animal experimental stage, and the safety and efficacy of MSCs in clinical application are not clear. We aimed to analyze the safety, efficacy and biomarkers of mesenchymal stromal cells in the treatment of ARDS.

Methods

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of science, CNKI, VIP and Wan Fang data, studies published between database inception and Mar 17, 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RCT) of stem cell interventions for ARDS were included, without language or date restrictions. We did separate meta-analyses for mortality, subjects with adverse events (AEs) and subjects with serious adverse events (SAEs). Since the trials data are dichotomous outcomes, the odds ratio (OR) is adopted for meta-analysis. The quality of the evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Findings

In total, 5 trials involving 171 patients with ARDS were included in this meta-analysis. A total of 99 individuals were randomly assigned to receive MSCs treatment, and 72 were randomly assigned to receive placebo treatment. Treatment with MSCs appeared to increase the occurrence of adverse events, but this result was not statistically significant (OR, 1.58; 95%CI, 0.64–3.91; P = 0.32). The occurrence of serious adverse events was lower in the MSCs group than in the placebo group (OR, 0.57; 95%CI, 0.14–2.32; P = 0.43); there seems to be no significant difference between the two groups in terms of 28 days mortality (OR, 0.93; 95%CI, 0.45–1.89); oxygenation index and biomarkers showed a tendency to improve in treatment, but there was a lack of more statistically significant clinical evidence to support them.

Interpretation

Based on the current clinical trials, MSCs intervention has some safety for ARDS patients, but its effectiveness and predictive value of airspace biomarkers need to be determined by more large-scale, standard randomized controlled trials.
Sympathetic-mediated blunting of forearm vasodilation is similar between young men and women
Authors: Gentilin Alessandro , Moghetti Paolo , Cevese Antonio , Schena Federico , Tarperi Cantor
Published: June 2022

Background

The in-vivo regulation of vascular conductance (VC) is a continuous balance between endothelial vasodilation and sympathetic vasoconstriction. Although women may report blunted sympathetic vasoconstriction along with higher endothelial vasodilation than men, it is currently unknown whether the interaction between vasoconstriction and vasodilation leads to different regulation of VC between sexes. This study assessed sex differences in sympathetic-mediated blunting of endothelial vasodilation after a brief period of ischemia and whether any restriction of vasodilation blunts tissue blood flow (BF) and re-oxygenation.

Methods

13 young women and 12 young men underwent two 5-min forearm circulatory occlusions followed by reperfusion, one in basal conditions and the other during cold pressor test-induced sympathetic activation (SYMP). Brachial artery diameter and BF, mean arterial pressure, total peripheral resistance (TPR), and thenar eminence oxygenation were collected. Percent changes normalized to baseline values of forearm VC, brachial artery BF and flow-mediated dilation (FMD), TPR, and hand oxygenation after circulatory reperfusion were calculated.

Results

TPR increased during SYMP in men (p = 0.019) but not in women (p = 0.967). Women showed a greater brachial artery FMD than men (p = 0.004) at rest, but sex differences disappeared after normalization to shear rate and baseline diameter (p > 0.11). The percent increases from baseline of peak and average forearm VC after circulatory reperfusion did not differ between sexes in basal conditions (p > 0.98) or during SYMP (p > 0.97), and were restrained by SYMP similarly in both sexes (p < 0.003) without impairing the hand re-oxygenation (p > 0.08) or average hyperemic response (p > 0.09).

Conclusions

Although women may report blunted sympathetic vasoconstriction than men when assessed separately, the similar sympathetic-mediated restriction of vasodilation suggests a similar dynamic regulation of VC between sexes. SYMP-mediated restrictions of the normal forearm vasodilation do not impair the average hyperemic response and hand re-oxygenation in both sexes.
Clinical significance of pancreatic calcifications: a 15-year single-center observational study
Authors: Wang Wei , Chai Li , Zhu Naiyi , Wang Qingrou , Zhou Yiran , Chai Weimin
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Pancreatic calcifications (PC) are considered specific for chronic pancreatitis (CP), but PC may also be present in non-CP diseases. The aims are to understand the pattern of calcifications in different diseases and to determine they were related to malignant diseases.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed including patients with PC or CP undergoing surgery in the Department of General Surgery of Ruijin Hospital from January 2003 to June 2018.

Results

PC were observed in 168 (4.5%) of the 3755 patients with pancreatic lesions treated during the study period. The majority of patients with PC had three kinds of CP (73.2%) while 26.8% had other five kinds of non-CP diseases. In patients with non-CP diseases, the incidence of PC in malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) was significantly higher than benign IPMN (8.3% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.004). In patients of CP with pancreatic mass (n = 81), PC (Odds ratio = 28.6, p = 0.000), advanced age (> 55 years) and parenchymal atrophy were independent predictors for malignancy. In patients of CP without pancreatic mass (n = 110), there were 82 cases (74.5%) with PC and 5 cases (4.5%) with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The regression model of risk factors was not successful.

Conclusions

The disease spectrum with PC was very diverse. PC may be related to malignant IPMN in non-CP diseases and is related to malignancy in the patients of CP with pancreatic mass and indications for resection.
Burden and factors associated with schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections among school-age children in Huambo, Uige and Zaire provinces, Angola
Authors: Bartlett Adam W. , Sousa-Figueiredo Jose C. , van Goor Roelofje C. , Monaghan Paul , Lancaster Warren , Mugizi Rukaaka , Mendes Elsa P. , Nery Susana Vaz , Lopes Sergio
Published: June 2022

Background

Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) contribute high disease burdens amongst the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and are public health problems in Angola. This study reports the prevalence, intensity and risk factors for schistosomiasis and STH infection in Huambo, Uige and Zaire provinces, Angola, to inform a school-based preventive chemotherapy program.

Methods

A two-stage cluster design was used to select schools and schoolchildren to participate in parasitological and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) surveys across Huambo, Uige, and Zaire provinces. Point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen and urinalysis rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were used to determine the prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniandS. haematobium, respectively. Kato-Katz was used to identify and quantify STH species and quantify and compare with RDTs forS. mansoni. Urine filtration was used to quantify and compare with RDTs forS. haematobium. Descriptive statistics were used for prevalence and infection intensity of schistosomiasis and STH infection. Performance of RDTs was assessed through specificity and Cohen’s Kappa agreement with microscopy. A multivariate regression analysis was used to determine demographic and WASH factors associated with schistosomiasis and STH infection.

Results

A total 575 schools and 17,093 schoolchildren participated in the schistosomiasis survey, of which 121 schools and 3649 schoolchildren participated in the STH survey. Overall prevalence ofS. mansoniwas 21.2% (municipality range 0.9–74.8%) andS. haematobium13.6% (range 0–31.2%), with an overall prevalence of schistosomiasis of 31.4% (range 5.9–77.3%). Overall prevalence ofAscaris lumbricoideswas 25.1% (range 0–89.7%), hookworm 5.2% (range 0–42.6%), andTrichuris trichiura3.6% (range 0–24.2%), with an overall prevalence of STH infection of 29.5% (range 0.8–89.7%). Ecological zone and ethnicity were factors associated with schistosomiasis and STH infection, with older age and female sex additional risk factors forS. haematobium.

Conclusions

Most municipalities met World Health Organization defined prevalence thresholds for a schistosomiasis preventive chemotherapy program. A STH preventive chemotherapy program is indicated for nearly all municipalities in Uige and select municipalities in Huambo and Zaire. The association between ecological zone and ethnicity with schistosomiasis and STH infection necessitates further evaluation of home and school environmental, sociodemographic and behavioural factors to inform targeted control strategies to complement preventive chemotherapy programs.
The crustal stress field of Germany: a refined prediction
Authors: Ahlers Steffen , Röckel Luisa , Hergert Tobias , Reiter Karsten , Heidbach Oliver , Henk Andreas , Müller Birgit , Morawietz Sophia , Scheck-Wenderoth Magdalena , Anikiev Denis
Published: June 2022

Information about the absolute stress state in the upper crust plays a crucial role in the planning and execution of, e.g., directional drilling, stimulation and exploitation of geothermal and hydrocarbon reservoirs. Since many of these applications are related to sediments, we present a refined geomechanical–numerical model for Germany with focus on sedimentary basins, able to predict the complete 3D stress tensor. The lateral resolution of the model is 2.5 km, the vertical resolution about 250 m. Our model contains 22 units with focus on the sedimentary layers parameterized with individual rock properties. The model results show an overall good fit with magnitude data of the minimum (Shmin) and maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) that are used for the model calibration. The mean of the absolute stress differences between these calibration data and the model results is 4.6 MPa for Shmin and 6.4 MPa for SHmax. In addition, our predicted stress field shows good agreement to several supplementary in-situ data from the North German Basin, the Upper Rhine Graben and the Molasse Basin.
Machine learning model for malaria risk prediction based on mutation location of large-scale genetic variation data
Authors: Tai Kah Yee , Dhaliwal Jasbir
Published: June 2022

In recent malaria research, the complexity of the disease has been explored using machine learning models via blood smear images, environmental, and even RNA-Seq data. However, a machine learning model based on genetic variation data is still required to fully explore individual malaria risk. Furthermore, many Genome-Wide Associations Studies (GWAS) have associated specific genetic markers, i.e., single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), with malaria. Thus, the present study improves the current state-of-the-art genetic risk score by incorporating SNPs mutation location on large-scale genetic variation data obtained from GWAS. Nevertheless, it becomes computationally expensive for hyperparameter optimization on large-scale datasets. Therefore, this study proposes a machine learning model that incorporates mutation location as well as a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to optimize hyperparameters. Besides that, a deep learning model is also proposed to predict individual malaria risk as an alternative approach. The analysis is performed on the Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network (MalariaGEN) dataset comprising 20,817 individuals from 11 populations. The findings of this study demonstrated that the proposed GA could overcome the curse of dimensionality and improve resource efficiency compared to commonly used methods. In addition, incorporating the mutation location significantly improved the machine learning models in predicting the individual malaria risk; a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) score of 8.00E−06. Moreover, the deep learning model obtained almost similar MAE scores to the machine learning models, indicating an alternative approach. Thus, this study provides relevant knowledge of genetic and technical deliberations that can improve the state-of-the-art methods for predicting individual malaria risk.
specificity: an R package for analysis of feature specificity to environmental and higher dimensional variables, applied to microbiome species data
Authors: Darcy John L. , Amend Anthony S. , Swift Sean O. I. , Sommers Pacifica S. , Lozupone Catherine A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Understanding the factors that influence microbes’ environmental distributions is important for determining drivers of microbial community composition. These include environmental variables like temperature and pH, and higher-dimensional variables like geographic distance and host species phylogeny. In microbial ecology, “specificity” is often described in the context of symbiotic or host parasitic interactions, but specificity can be more broadly used to describe the extent to which a species occupies a narrower range of an environmental variable than expected by chance. Using a standardization we describe here, Rao’s (Theor Popul Biol, 1982. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(82)90004-1, Sankhya A, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13171-010-0016-3 ) Quadratic Entropy can be conveniently applied to calculate specificity of a feature, such as a species, to many different environmental variables.

Results

We present our R packagespecificityfor performing the above analyses, and apply it to four real-life microbial data sets to demonstrate its application. We found that many fungi within the leaves of native Hawaiian plants had strong specificity to rainfall and elevation, even though these variables showed minimal importance in a previous analysis of fungal beta-diversity. In Antarctic cryoconite holes, our tool revealed that many bacteria have specificity to co-occurring algal community composition. Similarly, in the human gut microbiome, many bacteria showed specificity to the composition of bile acids. Finally, our analysis of the Earth Microbiome Project data set showed that most bacteria show strong ontological specificity to sample type. Our software performed as expected on synthetic data as well.

Conclusions

specificityis well-suited to analysis of microbiome data, both in synthetic test cases, and across multiple environment types and experimental designs. The analysis and software we present here can reveal patterns in microbial taxa that may not be evident from a community-level perspective. These insights can also be visualized and interactively shared among researchers usingspecificity’s companion package,specificity.shiny.
Amino acid availability enhanced through glucose coadministration of amino acid supplementation during hemodiafiltration: two case reports
Authors: Fujiwara Masako , Ando Itiro , Shishido You , Imai Yutaka , Terawaki Hiroyuki
Published: June 2022

Background

Intravenous administration of amino acid (AA) formulation (IVAA) as intradialytic parenteral nutrition is widely used for malnourished patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) treated with hemodialysis (HD) or hemodiafiltration (HDF). Although various therapy recipes such as AA compositions or simultaneous administration of glucose and/or lipids have been attempted, the specific effects of each recipe on AA behaviors and metabolic consequences have not been well investigated. To clarify the effect of simultaneous glucose administration with IVAA, we investigated the behavior of AAs, insulin as a metabolic hormone, and energy-related metabolites during an HDF session in two patients.

Case presentation

We aimed to determine the effect of IVAA with or without simultaneous glucose administration. The plasma levels of AAs, branched-chain AAs (leucine, isoleucine, and valine), major nonessential AAs (alanine and glutamine with glutamate), insulin, glucose, and ketone bodies were measured before HDF and at the second hour (prior to the meal in the HDF session). Lost AAs in the spent dialysate were also measured for the first two hours during the HDF session.

Conclusion

In the absence of glucose administration, plasma AA levels and the loss of AAs in the dialysate increased owing to IVAA, with the increase in plasma levels in ketone bodies occurring because of scarce secretion of plasma insulin. In the presence of glucose administration, plasma levels and the loss of AA decreased even when the same amount of AAs was injected, possibly because of the profound secretion of insulin with a decrease in ketone bodies. The present findings suggest that the metabolic effects of simultaneous glucose administration on IVAAs enhanced AA uptake into the body during HDF sessions, which might increase the effectiveness of IVAAs.
Fluorination of silyl prosthetic groups by fluorine mediated silyl ether linker cleavage: a concept study with conditions applicable in radiofluorination
Authors: Kramer Carsten Sven , Greiner Luca , Kopka Klaus , Schäfer Martin
Published: June 2022

Background

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful tool in medical imaging, especially in combination with the PET radionuclide fluorine-18 that possesses optimal characteristics. For labelling of biomolecules and low-molecular weight tracers, fluorine-18 can be covalently bound to silicon by either nucleophilic replacements of leaving groups (like ethers) or by isotope exchange of fluorine-19. While nucleophilic substitutions require additional purification steps for the removal of contaminants, isotope exchange with fluorine-18 results in low molar activity. Both challenges can be addressed with a detagging-fluorination of an immobilized silyl ether motif.

Results

By overcoming the susceptibility towards hydrolysis, optimized detagging conditions (improved reaction time, fluorination reagent, linker, and resin) could afford the highly sterically hindered silyl fluoride motifs, that are commonly applied in radiochemistry in small and semipreparative scales. The described reaction conditions with fluorine-19 are transferrable to conditions with [18F]fluoride and silyl fluorides were obtained after approx. 10 min reaction time and in high-purity after mechanical filtration.

Conclusions

We present a proof-of-concept study for a detagging-fluorination of two silyl ethers that are bound to an optimized amino alcohol resin. We show with our model substrate that our solid-phase linker combination is capable of yielding the desired silicon fluoride in amounts sufficient for biological studies in animals or humans under standard fluorination conditions that may also be transferred to a radiolabelling setting. In conclusion, our presented approach could optimize the molar activity and simplify the preparation of radiofluorinated silyl fluorides.
Genetic variation in CSF2 (5q31.1) is associated with longitudinal susceptibility to pediatric malaria, severe malarial anemia, and all-cause mortality in a high-burden malaria and HIV region of Kenya
Authors: Kisia Lily E. , Cheng Qiuying , Raballah Evans , Munde Elly O. , McMahon Benjamin H. , Hengartner Nick W. , Ong’echa John M. , Chelimo Kiprotich , Lambert Christophe G. , Ouma Collins , Kempaiah Prakasha , Perkins Douglas J. , Schneider Kristan A. , Anyona Samuel B.
Published: June 2022

Plasmodium falciparum infections remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in holoendemic transmission areas. Located within region 5q31.1, the colony-stimulating factor 2 gene (CSF2) encodes granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a hematopoietic growth factor that mediates host immune responses. Since the effect of CSF2 variation on malaria pathogenesis remains unreported, we investigated the impact of two genetic variants in the 5q31.1 gene region flanking CSF2:g-7032 G > A (rs168681:G > A) and CSF2:g.64544T > C (rs246835:T > C) on the rate and timing of malaria and severe malarial anemia (SMA, Hb < 5.0 g/dL) episodes over 36 months of follow-up. Children (n = 1654, aged 2–70 months) were recruited from a holoendemic P. falciparum transmission area of western Kenya. Decreased incidence rate ratio (IRR) for malaria was conferred by inheritance of the CSF2:g.64544 TC genotype (P = 0.0277) and CSF2 AC/GC diplotype (P = 0.0015). Increased IRR for malaria was observed in carriers of the CSF2 AT/GC diplotype (P = 0.0237), while the inheritance of the CSF2 AT haplotype increased the IRR for SMA (P = 0.0166). A model estimating the longitudinal risk of malaria showed decreased hazard rates among CSF2 AC haplotype carriers (P = 0.0045). Investigation of all-cause mortality revealed that inheritance of the GA genotype at CSF2:g-7032 increased the risk of mortality (P = 0.0315). Higher risk of SMA and all-cause mortality were observed in younger children (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0015), HIV-1(+) individuals (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001), and carriers of HbSS (P = 0.0342 and P = 0.0019). Results from this holoendemic P. falciparum area show that variation in gene region 5q31.1 influences susceptibility to malaria, SMA, and mortality, as does age, HIV-1 status, and inheritance of HbSS.
The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Andayeshgar Bahare , Janatolmakan Maryam , Soroush Ali , Azizi Seyyed Mohsen , Khatony Alireza
Published: June 2022

Background

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the diseases related to diabetes. Considering the varying prevalence of OSA in patients with type 2 diabetes in different parts of the world, in order to aggregate the results and come to a general review about the topic mentioned, the current study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of OSA in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In this study, the international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Cochran library) were searched without time limit using keywords diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and prevalence or epidemiology. Homogeneity was investigated among studies using Cochran Q test and I2 index. Given the heterogeneity of studies, random effect model was used to estimate the prevalence of OSA. Meta-regression was used to investigate the effect of quantitative variables on the prevalence of OSA. Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) software was used for data analysis.

Results

Twenty studies were included in the meta-analysis. In these 19 studies, the total number of patients with type 2 diabetes was 10,754, with a mean age of 58.6 ± 4.1 years. Final estimation of OSA prevalence was calculated to be 56.0%. The results of meta-regression showed the prevalence of OSA increased with a rise in the mean age, the percentage of male sex, body mass index, and sample size.

Conclusion

Given the high prevalence of OSA in patients with type 2 diabetes, weight control can partly mitigate their problems and possibly reduce OSA prevalence.
Rejuvenation improves the quality of Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) reared for many generations on Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
Authors: Ghaemmaghami Ehsan , Fathipour Yaghoub , Bagheri Abdoolnabi , Talebi Ali Asghar , Reddy Gadi V. P.
Published: June 2022

Background

Domestication usually has negative effects on insect performance, especially when they are reared continuously for many generations. Rejuvenation can reduce the negative effects of domestication in the parasitoid, Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) reared for 30 generations (G) on Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Life table and parasitism parameters in the primary colony (G31–G45) were compared with the respective colony rejuvenated with field-collected individuals.

Results

There were significant differences in life history traits between domesticated and rejuvenated populations. The highest (38.4 eggs/female) and lowest (13.3 eggs/female) fecundity was observed in rejuvenated G31 and domesticated G45, respectively. The highest values of the life table and parasitism parameters were observed in rejuvenated G31 without significant difference with G32, G33 and G34. The relationship between finite parasitism rate (ω) and generation number in both rejuvenated and domesticated populations were fitted to the cubic regression model, indicating the parasitism potential of T. brassicae increased significantly after adding feral individuals but decreased remarkably over the generations.

Conclusions

Therefore, it seems that adding 10% feral individuals re-established the reproductive performance of the wasps at least for four generations, and it needs to be repeated routinely or it needs to be made by adding a higher rate of feral individuals. However, this issue should be investigated by more studies in which different rates of feral individuals are added to the primary colony.
Hydration behavior and formation of strätlingite compound (C2ASH8) in a bio-cement based on tri-calcium silicate and mono-calcium aluminate for dental applications: influence of curing medium
Authors: Radwan M. M. , Nagi Shaymaa M.
Published: June 2022

Background

The aim of this work was to study the influence of simulated body fluid (SBF) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in Mueller Hinton Broth, MHB media) on the hydration reactions, formation of strätlingite (C2ASH8) and morphology of a composite material based on nano-size tri-calcium silicate (C3S) and tri-calcium aluminate (CA) phases. The two experimental phases were prepared in laboratory by firing the required molar ratios of chemically pure reactants by solid-state reactions at elevated temperatures. Investigation of setting time, micro-hardness, pH of immersion solution, X-ray diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and cytotoxicity were also carried out.

Results

The results emphasized that the hydrated compounds of C3S phase can partly solve the problem of conversion process through the formation of the more stable and highly mechanical stratlingite hydrate (C2ASH8) plates that results in an increase in hardness values for samples cured in distilled water (DW) at 37 °C. The SBF solution showed more strength loss than those cured in Pseudomonas aeruginosa microbe (MHB) medium bacterial solution. SEM and EDAX analyses emphasized the formation of hydroxyapatite at 37 °C.

Conclusions

The prepared cements are promising for dental application.
Aberrant in physicochemical properties, functional health and medicinal grades of honeys from different sales outlets in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Akinwande Kayode Lawrence , Oladapo Ajayi Joshua
Published: June 2022

Background

Honey is consumed for the derived benefits as sweetener, for healing wounds, skin burns, regulating blood sugar level, treatments of some ailments, etc. In Nigeria, adulteration of honey is a serious concern, and these adulterated or fake honeys have health implications. This research aims to compare and contrast the physicochemical qualities, functional health and medicinal values of honey samples from local honey parkers, supermarkets and beekeepers’ sales outlets in Southwest Nigeria.

Results

The darkness of the honey from the three sources was significantly different. The honey samples from the beekeepers have ash contents values of 0.25–1.0 in line with CAC and IHC, whereas 7(46.66%) and 2(13.33%) of honey samples from the supermarkets and local handlers/parkers, respectively, deviated from this standard values. The wound healing development after 8 days of topical treatment of incision wounds with honey from beekeepers shows a good development. 93.3% of the honeys sourced from the beekeepers, 58.06 and 66.05% of the honeys sourced from the supermarkets, and the local honey markets were found to be original.

Conclusion

The originality of honey for consumers’ satisfaction is dependent on the complimentary factors of physicochemical properties, functional health and medicinal values. These findings provide information for consumers’ awareness on categorization of honey as original/pure, adulterated and fake and the health implications.
Management strategies to de-implement low-value care—an applied behavior analysis
Authors: Ingvarsson Sara , Hasson Henna , Augustsson Hanna , Nilsen Per , von Thiele Schwarz Ulrica , Sandaker Ingunn
Published: June 2022

Background

There is a lack of knowledge about management strategies being used to de-implement low-value care (LVC). Furthermore, it is not clear from the current literature what mechanisms are involved in such strategies and how they can change physicians’ behaviors. Understanding the mechanisms is important for determining a strategy’s potential impact. Applied behavior analysis focuses on processes involved in increasing and decreasing behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand what management strategies are being used to de-implement LVC and the possible mechanisms involved in those strategies, using concepts from applied behavior analysis.

Method

We applied a qualitative study design using an inductive approach to understand what management strategies are in use and then employed applied behavior analysis concepts to deductively analyze the mechanisms involved in them.

Results

We identified eight different management strategies intended to influence LVC. Five of the strategies were developed at a regional level and had the potential to influence physicians’ LVC-related behaviors either by functioning as rules on which LVC to de-implement or by initiating local strategies in each health care center that in turn could influence LVC practices. The local strategies had a stronger potential for influencing de-implementation.

Conclusion

Both strategies at a systemic level (regional) and on a local level (health care centers) must be considered to influence LVC-related behaviors. Strategies at the center level have a specific opportunity to impact LVC-related behaviors because they can be tailored to specific circumstances, even though some of them probably were initiated as an effect of strategies on a regional level. Using applied behavior analysis to understand these circumstances can be helpful for tailoring strategies to reduce LVC use.
Surfactant–solid complex for enhancing the flow in pipelines: an experimental approach
Authors: Mahmood Wafaa K. , Abdulkarim Makarim H. , Abdulbari Hayder A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Viscoelastic soluble polymeric additives have been used successfully for a long time as drag reducers in pipelines carrying commercial liquids like crude oil. Most of these polymers suffer from irreversible degradation when exposed to high shearing zones as in valves, elbows, and pumps which reduces, or eliminates, its flow enhancement effect. Insoluble additives were proven to be an effective drag reducer that overcomes the degradation drawback of soluble additives. On the other hand, insoluble additives suffer from the lack of viscoelasticity which limits their use as flow enhancers. The creation of complexes from soluble and insoluble additives is a field of research that is rarely explored despite its importance in introducing new flow enhancement methods for a higher drag reduction performance. The present work introduces a new surfactant–solid complex as a drag-reducing agent for turbulent flow in pipelines.

Results

The surfactant, solid, and their complexes’ drag reduction performance was tested in a closed-loop turbulent flow liquid circulation system, while rheological characteristics of the soluble additives were tested using a standard rheometer. All the surfactant solutions showed non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior in all the investigated concentrations that ranged between 500 and 1300 wppm. The initial experimental result indicated that the surfactant solution's drag reduction performance was higher than that of the solid suspensions. On the other hand, the drag reduction performance was enhanced by 52% when creating a 1300 wppm surfactant–2000 wppm solid complex. This improvement in the drag reduction performance is due to the formation of surfactant–solid-enforced aggregates with high resistance to shear forces and high turbulence suppression efficiency.

Conclusions

The present work introduces a new drag reduction solid–surfactant complex by creating aggregates combining the viscoelastic properties of surfactants with the resistance to high shear forces exerted by the solid particles. The polar nature of the surfactant micelles that form in single-phase flow systems contributed significantly to trapping the solid's micro-particles as enforcement to resist the shearing forces applied by the turbulent flow system.
COVID-19 pandemic and the exchange rate movements: evidence from six major COVID-19 hot spots
Authors: Jamal Aamir , Bhat Mudaser Ahad
Published: June 2022

The study’s primary objective is to unravel the nexus between the COVID-19 crisis and the exchange rate movements in the six major COVID-19 hot spots—Brazil, China, India, Italy, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The impact of the COVID-19 deaths on the Rupee/USD, Pound/USD, Yuan/USD, Real/USD, Lira/USD, and Euro/USD exchange rates is analyzed by using the panel ARDL model. The COVID-19 deaths are used as a proxy for market expectations. The panel ARDL model showed a unidirectional long-run causality running from the COVID-19 deaths to the exchange rate. In fact, the coefficient of COVID-19 deaths is positive and significant in explaining the exchange rate(s) in the long run. This result meets the a-priori expectation that a rise in COVID-19 deaths can depreciate the sample countries’ exchange rates. The reason being, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed the market expectations of the financial market participants about the future value of exchange rate(s) in the major COVID-19 hot spots. Therefore, countries experiencing a sharp daily rise in COVID-19 deaths typically saw their currencies weaken.
Accounting for the symmetric and asymmetric effects of FDI-growth nexus amidst financial crises, economic crises and COVID-19 pandemic: application of hidden co-integration
Authors: Obiakor Rowland Tochukwu , Okere Kingsley Ikechukwu , Muoneke Obumneke Bob , Nwaeze Nnamdi Chinwendu
Published: June 2022

This study investigates the symmetric and asymmetric effects of FDI-growth nexus amidst financial crises, economic crises and COVID-19 pandemic s in Nigeria over the period 1983–2020. Having confirmed the long-run stable state among the variables, the symmetric estimates suggest that the FDI inflow/outflow is significantly linked with economic growth both in the long and short run, while the asymmetric model suggests that the parameter estimates have asymmetric effects on economic growth during the economic crisis in Nigeria. Specifically, the positive shocks in FDI inflow/outflow generate a significant reducing impact on economic growth, while negative shocks in FDI inflow/outflow generate a significant increasing effect on economic growth. Based on this findings, the study suggests that policy option would need to generate more economic activities that would improve net inflow/outflow and cushion the effect of future crisis.