bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of ZnO/CNT Nanocomposites for Ultraviolet Sensors
Authors: Basit Maryam , Abbas Murrawat , Ahmad Naeem , Javed Sofia , Shah Nazar Abbas
Published: March 2022

Zinc oxide/carbon nanotube (ZnO/CNTs) nanocomposites are developed on gold (Au)-coated unpolished Si p-type (100) substrates with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 nm thicknesses by vapor–liquid–solid method. One set of Au-coated Si substrates are annealed to develop Si–Au samples for better nucleation. XRD, FE-SEM, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopic characterizations are used to study structural, morphological, and optical properties on annealed and unannealed catalyst layers with various Au thickness samples. In XRD results, the ZnO/CNT nanocomposites are observed with higher crystallinity and purity of phase. FE-SEM images showed variety of nanostructures with variation in morphologies with respect to Au thickness in annealed and unannealed samples. Clear indication of high defect concentrations and high crystallinity is observed in Raman spectra. It is observed in PL spectra that preferred peak orientation with shift ∼4 nm in the unannealed Au layer and ∼9 nm in annealed Au layer samples exhibited formation of ZnO/CNT nanocomposites. Efficient sensing is observed in the 6-nm thickness Au layer in the unannealed sample. Annealed Au-coated Si samples at 8 and 10 nm thicknesses showed efficient UV sensing with quick response and recovery time.
Targeting Gut Microbiota With Natural Polysaccharides: Effective Interventions Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Sun Chao-Yue , Zheng Zuo-Liang , Chen Cun-Wu , Lu Bao-Wei , Liu Dong
Published: March 2022

Unhealthy diet, in particular high-fat diet (HFD) intake, can cause the development of several metabolic disorders, including obesity, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic syndrome (MetS). These popular metabolic diseases reduce the quality of life, and induce premature death worldwide. Evidence is accumulating that the gut microbiota is inextricably associated with HFD-induced metabolic disorders, and dietary intervention of gut microbiota is an effective therapeutic strategy for these metabolic dysfunctions. Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate macromolecules and sources of fermentable dietary fiber that exhibit biological activities in the prevention and treatment of HFD-induced metabolic diseases. Of note, natural polysaccharides are among the most potent modulators of the gut microbiota composition. However, the prebiotics-like effects of polysaccharides in treating HFD-induced metabolic diseases remain elusive. In this review, we introduce the critical role of gut microbiota human health and HFD-induced metabolic disorders. Importantly, we review current knowledge about the role of natural polysaccharides in improving HFD-induced metabolic diseases by regulating gut microbiota.
Effects of Exergaming-Based Tai Chi on Cognitive Function and Dual-Task Gait Performance in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Liu Chien-Liang , Cheng Fang-Yu , Wei Min-Ju , Liao Ying-Yi
Published: March 2022

Background

Declined cognitive function interferes with dual-task walking ability and may result in falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The mind-body exercise, Tai Chi (TC), improves cognition and dual-task ability. Exergaming is low-cost, safe, highly scalable, and feasible. Whether the effects of exergaming-based TC is beneficial than traditional TC has not been investigated yet.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of exergaming-based TC on cognitive function and dual-task walking among older adults with MCI.

Methods

Fifty patients with MCI were randomly assigned to an exergaming-based TC (EXER-TC) group, a traditional TC (TC) group, or a control group. The EXER-TC and TC groups received 36 training sessions (three, 50-min sessions per week) during a 12-week period. The control group received no intervention and were instructed to maintain their usual daily physical activities. The outcome variables measured included those related to cognitive function, dual-task cost (DTC), and gait performance.

Results

The EXER-TC and TC groups performed better than the control group on the Chinese version of the Stroop Color and Word Test, the Trail Making Test Parts A and B, the one-back test, gait speed, and DTC of gait speed in cognitive dual-task conditions after training. However, there were no significant differences between the EXER-TC and TC groups. Compared with the control group, only the EXER-TC group experienced beneficial effects for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Conclusion

EXER-TC was comparable to traditional TC for enhancement of dual-task gait performance and executive function. These results suggested that the EXER-TC approach has potential therapeutic use in older adults with MCI.
Combined Application of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging Techniques to Investigate the Effect of Iron Deposition on Microstructural Changes in the Brain in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Yang Lin , Cheng Yan , Sun Yongyan , Xuan Yinghua , Niu Jianping , Guan Jitian , Rong Yunjie , Jia Yanlong , Zhuang Zerui , Yan Gen , Wu Renhua
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Brain iron deposition and microstructural changes in brain tissue are associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the correlation between these factors in Parkinson’s disease has been little studied. This study aimed to use quantitative susceptibility mapping combined with diffusion kurtosis imaging to investigate the effects of iron deposition on microstructural tissue alterations in the brain.

Methods

Quantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion kurtosis imaging were performed on 24 patients with early PD, 13 patients with advanced PD, and 25 healthy controls. The mean values of magnetic susceptibility and diffusion kurtosis were calculated for the bilateral substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and caudate nucleus, and compared between the groups. Correlation analyses between the diffusion kurtosis of each nucleus and its magnetic susceptibility parameters in PD patients and healthy controls were performed.

Results

The study found a significant increase in iron deposition in the substantia nigra, red nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus, bilaterally, in patients with PD. Mean kurtosis values were increased in the substantia nigra but decreased in the globus pallidus; axial kurtosis values were decreased in both the substantia nigra and red nucleus; radial kurtosis values were increased in the substantia nigra but showed an opposite trend in the globus pallidus and caudate nucleus. In the substantia nigra of patients with PD, magnetic susceptibility was positively correlated with mean and radial kurtosis values, and negatively correlated with axial kurtosis. None of these correlations were significantly different in the control group. In the putamen, magnetic susceptibility was positively correlated with mean, axial, and radial kurtosis only in patients with advanced-stage PD.

Conclusion

Our study provides new evidence for brain iron content and microstructural alterations in patients with PD. Iron deposition may be a common mechanism for microstructural alterations in the substantia nigra and putamen of patients with PD. Tracking the dynamic changes in iron content and microstructure throughout the course of PD will help us to better understand the dynamics of iron metabolism and microstructural alterations in the pathogenesis of PD and to develop new approaches to monitor and treat PD.
Dynamic Alterations in Functional Connectivity Density in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Shi Jia-Yan , Cai Li-Min , Lin Jia-Hui , Zou Zhang-Yu , Zhang Xiao-Hong , Chen Hua-Jun
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

Current knowledge on the temporal dynamics of the brain functional organization in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is limited. This is the first study on alterations in the patterns of dynamic functional connection density (dFCD) involving ALS.

Methods

We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 50 individuals diagnosed with ALS and 55 healthy controls (HCs). We calculated the functional connectivity (FC) between a given voxel and all other voxels within the entire brain and yield the functional connection density (FCD) value per voxel. dFCD was assessed by sliding window correlation method. In addition, the standard deviation (SD) of dFCD across the windows was computed voxel-wisely to measure dFCD variability. The difference in dFCD variability between the two groups was compared using a two-sample t-test following a voxel-wise manner. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the between-group recognition performance of the dFCD variability index.

Results

The dFCD variability was significantly reduced in the bilateral precentral and postcentral gyrus compared with the HC group, whereas a marked increase was observed in the left middle frontal gyrus of ALS patients. dFCD variability exhibited moderate potential (areas under ROC curve = 0.753–0.837, all P < 0.001) in distinguishing two groups.

Conclusion

ALS patients exhibit aberrant dynamic property in brain functional architecture. The dFCD evaluation improves our understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying ALS and may assist in its diagnosis.
Optimized Magnetic Stimulation Induced Hypoconnectivity Within the Executive Control Network Yields Cognition Improvements in Alzheimer’s Patients
Authors: Xiao Guixian , Wu Yue , Yan Yibing , Gao Liying , Geng Zhi , Qiu Bensheng , Zhou Shanshan , Ji Gongjun , Wu Xingqi , Hu Panpan , Wang Kai
Published: March 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disease, which mainly manifests as memory and progressive cognitive impairment. At present, there is no method to prevent the progression of AD or cure it, and effective intervention methods are urgently needed. Network-targeted intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) may be effective in alleviating the cognitive symptoms of patients with mild AD. The abnormal function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) within executive control network (ECN) may be the pathogenesis of AD. Here, we verify the abnormality of the ECN in the native AD data set, and build the relevant brain network. In addition, we also recruited AD patients to verify the clinical effects of DLPFC-targeted intervention, and explor the neuro-mechanism. Sixty clinically diagnosed AD patients and 62 normal controls were recruited to explore the ECN abnormalities. In addition, the researchers recruited 20 AD patients to explore the efficacy of 14-session iTBS treatments for targeted DLPFC interventions. Functional magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological assessment of resting state were performed before and after the intervention. Calculate the changes in the functional connectivity of related brain regions in the ECN, as well as the correlation between the baseline functional connectivity and the clinical scoring scale, to clarify the mechanism of the response of iTBS treatment to treatment. Our results showed that compared with normal control samples, the brain function connection between the left DLPFC and the left IPL within the ECN of AD patients was significantly enhanced (t = 2.687, p = 0.008, FDR-corrected p = 0.045). And we found that iTBS stimulation significantly reduced the functional magnetic resonance imaging signal between the left DLPFC and the left IPL in the ECN (t = 4.271, p < 0.001, FDR-corrected p = 0.006), and it was related to the improvement of the patient’s clinical symptoms (r = −0.470, p = 0.042). This work provides new insights for targeted brain area interventions. By targeted adjusting the functional connection of ECN to improve the clinical symptoms and cognitive function of AD patients.
Cognitive Improvement After Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Is Not Associated With Peripheral Biomarkers
Authors: Ando Soichi , Komiyama Takaaki , Tanoue Yukiya , Sudo Mizuki , Costello Joseph T. , Uehara Yoshinari , Higaki Yasuki
Published: March 2022

The role of peripheral biomarkers following acute physical exercise on cognitive improvement has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to explore the role of peripheral circulating biomarkers in executive performance following acute aerobic and resistance exercise. Nineteen healthy males completed a central executive (Go/No-Go) task before and after 30-min of perceived intensity matched aerobic and resistance exercise. In the aerobic condition, the participants cycled an ergometer at 40% peak oxygen uptake. In the resistance condition, they performed resistance exercise using elastic bands. Before and after an acute bout of physical exercise, venous samples were collected for the assessment of following biomarkers: adrenaline, noradrenaline, glucose, lactate, cortisol, insulin-like growth hormone factor 1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Reaction time decreased following both aerobic exercise and resistance exercise (p = 0.04). Repeated measures correlation analysis indicated that changes in reaction time were not associated with the peripheral biomarkers (all p > 0.05). Accuracy tended to decrease in the resistance exercise condition (p = 0.054). Accuracy was associated with changes in adrenaline [rrm(18) = −0.51, p = 0.023], noradrenaline [rrm(18) = −0.66, p = 0.002], lactate [rrm(18) = −0.47, p = 0.035], and brain-derived neurotrophic factor [rrm(17) = −0.47, p = 0.044] in the resistance condition. These findings suggest that these peripheral biomarkers do not directly contribute to reduction in reaction time following aerobic or resistance exercise. However, greater sympathoexcitation, reflected by greater increase in noradrenaline, may be associated with a tendency for a reduction in accuracy after acute resistance exercise.
Reconstructing Group Wavelet Transform From Feature Maps With a Reproducing Kernel Iteration
Authors: Barbieri Davide
Published: March 2022

In this article, we consider the problem of reconstructing an image that is downsampled in the space of its SE(2) wavelet transform, which is motivated by classical models of simple cell receptive fields and feature preference maps in the primary visual cortex. We prove that, whenever the problem is solvable, the reconstruction can be obtained by an elementary project and replace iterative scheme based on the reproducing kernel arising from the group structure, and show numerical results on real images.
Cardiovascular Outcomes in Sleep-Disordered Breathing: Are We Under-estimating?
Authors: Yasir Muhammad , Pervaiz Amina , Sankari Abdulghani
Published: March 2022

Obstructive sleep apnea is a growing health concern, affecting nearly one billion people worldwide; increasingly recognized as an independent cardiovascular risk factor associated with incident obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea could be underestimated in the previous studies, leading to only modest predictions of cardiovascular outcomes. Using more physiologic data will increase sensitivity for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Individuals at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea should be identified so that treatment efforts can be focused on them. This review will assess the evidence for the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular consequences in the past, present, and future. We will also explore the role of adding physiological data obtained from sleep studies and its ability to enhance the cardiovascular outcome's predictability. Finally, we will discuss future directions and gaps that need further research.
Completed Suicide by Firearm in an Individual With the Agrammatic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia: Case Report
Authors: Patel Deepal , Andersen Shaun , Smith Kyler , Ritter Aaron
Published: March 2022

The agrammatic or nonfluent variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (nfvPPA) is a form of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) that is characterized by progressive language dysfunction, poor sentence construction, and low verbal fluency. Individuals with nfvPPA have intact insight into their decline, which may manifest as frustration and hopelessness, and show signs of impulsivity and disinhibition. Little is known about suicide risk in this patient population. Here we describe a case of an 84 year-old male with nfvPPA who, over the course of his care, experienced a decline in language and motoric functioning which coincided with increasing irritability and impulsivity. Despite this significant decline, he denied depressive symptoms or showed any suicidal tendencies, and he seemed to be looking forward to future events. His suicide, committed with a handgun during what appeared to be a rather innocuous trip to the garage, came as a significant shock to his spouse, family, and his clinical care team. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of completed suicide in a patient with the nfvPPA subtype of FTD. Though this patient demonstrated demographic risk factors for suicide (advanced age, retired military veteran with easy access to firearms) there is a lack of data regarding how FTD may have contributed. Retained insight especially seems to be a risk factor for suicide across all forms of dementia. Impulsivity may be key when considering suicidality amongst FTD patients. Additionally, this case demonstrates the importance of addressing gun safety as there are few guidelines around gun ownership in this patient population.
Continuous Intraarterial Nimodipine Infusion for the Treatment of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective, Single-Center Cohort Trial
Authors: Kramer Andreas , Selbach Moritz , Kerz Thomas , Neulen Axel , Brockmann Marc A. , Ringel Florian , Brockmann Carolin
Published: March 2022

Background

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) occurs after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Continuous intraarterial nimodipine infusion (CIAN) is a promising approach in patients with intracranial large vessel vasospasm (LVV). The objective of this retrospective single-center cohort study was to evaluate the outcome in aSAH-patients treated with CIAN.

Methods

CIAN was initiated and ended based on the clinical evaluation and transcranial Doppler (TCD), CT-angiography, CT-perfusion (PCT), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Nimodipine (0.5–2.0 mg/h) was administered continuously through microcatheters placed in the extracranial internal carotid and/or vertebral artery. Primary outcome measures were Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge and within 1 year after aSAH, and the occurrence of minor and major (<⅓ and >⅓ of LVV-affected territory) DCI-related infarctions in subsequent CT/MRI-scans. Secondary outcome measures were CIAN-associated complications.

Results

A total of 17 patients underwent CIAN. Median onset of CIAN was 9 (3–13) days after aSAH, median duration was 5 (1–13) days. A favorable outcome (GOS 4–5) was achieved in 9 patients (53%) at discharge and in 13 patients within 1 year (76%). One patient died of posthemorrhagic cerebral edema. Minor cerebral infarctions occurred in five and major infarctions in three patients. One patient developed cerebral edema possibly due to CIAN. Normalization of PCT-parameters within 2 days was observed in 9/17 patients. Six patients showed clinical response and thus did not require PCT imaging.

Conclusion

The favorable outcome in 76% of patients after 1 year is in line with previous studies. CIAN thus may be used to treat patients with severe therapy-refractory DCI.
Impact of Non-pharmacological Chronic Hypertension on a Transgenic Rat Model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Authors: Stanisavljevic Aleksandra , Schrader Joseph M. , Zhu Xiaoyue , Mattar Jennifer M. , Hanks Ashley , Xu Feng , Majchrzak Mark , Robinson John K. , Van Nostrand William E.
Published: March 2022

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a common comorbidity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is a cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) characterized by deposition of fibrillar amyloid β (Aβ) in blood vessels of the brain and promotes neuroinflammation and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Hypertension, a prominent non-amyloidal CSVD, has been found to increase risk of dementia, but clinical data regarding its effects in CAA patients is controversial. To understand the effects of hypertension on CAA, we bred rTg-DI transgenic rats, a model of CAA, with spontaneously hypertensive, stroke prone (SHR-SP) rats producing bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP and non-transgenic SHR-SP littermates. At 7 months (M) of age, cohorts of both rTg-DI/SHR-SP and SHR-SP littermates exhibit elevated systolic blood pressures. However, transgene human amyloid β-protein (Aβ) precursor and Aβ peptide levels, as well as behavioral testing showed no changes between bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP and rTg-DI rats. Subsequent cohorts of rats were aged further to 10 M where bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP and SHR-SP littermates exhibit elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Vascular amyloid load in hippocampus and thalamus was significantly decreased, whereas pial surface vessel amyloid increased, in bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP rats compared to rTg-DI rats suggesting a redistribution of vascular amyloid in bigenic animals. There was activation of both astrocytes and microglia in rTg-DI rats and bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP rats not observed in SHR-SP rats indicating that glial activation was likely in response to the presence of vascular amyloid. Thalamic microbleeds were present in both rTg-DI rats and bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP rats. Although the number of thalamic small vessel occlusions were not different between rTg-DI and bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP rats, a significant difference in occlusion size and distribution in the thalamus was found. Proteomic analysis of cortical tissue indicated that bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP rats largely adopt features of the rTg-DI rats with enhancement of certain changes. Our findings indicate that at 10 M of age non-pharmacological hypertension in rTg-DI rats causes a redistribution of vascular amyloid and significantly alters the size and distribution of thalamic occluded vessels. In addition, our findings indicate that bigenic rTg-DI/SHR-SP rats provide a non-pharmacological model to further study hypertension and CAA as co-morbidities for CSVD and VCID.
Overexpression of lncRNA SLC16A1-AS1 Suppresses the Growth and Metastasis of Breast Cancer via the miR-552-5p/WIF1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Jiang Bin , Xia Jie , Zhou Xudong
Published: March 2022

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality with 685,000 deaths worldwide in 2020. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical in BC carcinogenesis and progression. However, the functional roles and mechanisms of SLC16A1-AS1 in BC are unknown.

Methods

The expression profile of SLC16A1-AS1 in BC patients was investigated using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and checked in 80 BC patients, followed by analyzing the prognostic value of SLC16A1-AS1 in the 80 BC patients. The biological functions of SLC16A1-AS1 were further examined in vivo and in vitro after overexpression of SLC16A1-AS1 in BC cells. Possible binding sites between SLC16A1-AS1 and miR-552-5p were predicted by miRDB and those between miR-552-5p and Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF1) were predicted by miRanda, which were confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assay with mutation. Spearman correlation assay was applied to evaluate the association between genes. Rescue experiments were further applied to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved.

Results

Lower SLC16A1-AS1 expression in BC tissues was related to poor prognosis of BC patients. Upregulation of SLC16A1-AS1 suppressed BC cell viability, colony formation, invasion, and migration in vitro and growth in vivo via sponging miR-552-5p to release WIF1.

Conclusion

SLC16A1-AS1 is a tumor suppressor in BC, and lower SLC16A1-AS1 expression is an indicator of poor prognosis in BC patients. SLC16A1-AS1 inhibits BC carcinogenesis and progression via the SLC16A1-AS1/miR-552-5p/WIF1 pathway. SLC16A1-AS1 represents a novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic target for BC management.
Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer and the Potential Role of Liquid Biopsy
Authors: Magbanua Mark Jesus M. , Gumusay Ozge , Kurzrock Razelle , van ‘t Veer Laura J. , Rugo Hope S.
Published: March 2022

Liquid biopsy biomarkers, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are noninvasive diagnostics that could complement predictive and prognostic tools currently used in the clinic. Recent trials of immunotherapy have shown promise in improving outcomes in a subset of breast cancer patients. Biomarkers could improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors by identifying patients whose cancers are more likely to respond to immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the current applications of liquid biopsy and emerging technologies for evaluation of immunotherapy response and outcomes in breast cancer. We also provide an overview of the status of immunotherapy in breast cancer.
CT-Derived Body Composition Values and Complications After Pneumonectomy in Lung Cancer Patients: Time for a Sex-Related Analysis?
Authors: Rizzo Stefania , Petrella Francesco , Bardoni Claudia , Bramati Lorenzo , Cara Andrea , Mohamed Shehab , Radice Davide , Raia Giorgio , Del Grande Filippo , Spaggiari Lorenzo
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to assess if CT-derived body composition values and clinical characteristics are associated with the risk of postsurgical complications in men and women who underwent pneumonectomy for lung cancer.

Materials and Methods

Patients who underwent pneumonectomy between 2004 and 2008 were selected. The ethics committee approved this retrospective study with waiver of informed content. Main clinical data collected were sex, age, weight and height to calculate body mass index (BMI), albumin, C-reactive protein, smoking status, side, sarcopenia, presurgical treatments, reoperation, and complications within 30 days after pneumonectomy, classified as: lung complications, cardiac complications, other complications, and any complication. From an axial CT image at the level of L3, automatic segmentations were performed to calculate skeletal muscle area (SMA), skeletal muscle density, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and visceral adipose tissue. Skeletal muscle index was calculated as SMA/square height. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the risk of any complication, both on the total population and in a by sex subgroup analysis. All tests were two tailed and considered significant at 5% level.

Results

A total of 107 patients (84 men and 23 women) were included. Despite no significant differences in BMI, there were significant differences of body composition values in muscle and adipose tissue parameters between men and women, with women being significantly more sarcopenic than men (p = 0.002). Separate analyses for men and women showed that age and SMA were significantly associated with postoperative complications in men (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

Body composition measurements extracted from routine CT may help in predicting complications after pneumonectomy, with men and women being different in quantity and distribution of muscle and fat, and men significantly more prone to postpneumonectomy complications with the increase of age and the decrease of skeletal muscle area.
Epidemiological Characteristics and the Development of Prognostic Nomograms of Patients With HIV-Associated Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Yang Zheng , Gong Daoqing , Huang Fei , Sun Yi , Hu Qinming
Published: March 2022

Background

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma (HIV-associated CTCL) is very low, and there is a lack of relevant epidemiological and clinical prognostic studies. Therefore, we aimed to study the epidemiological characteristics of HIV-associated CTCL and to construct and validate a nomogram predicting patient survival.

Methods

Demographic, clinical characteristics, and incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database were screened for patients with HIV-associated CTCL. Independent prognostic factors in patients with HIV-associated CTCL were analyzed to establish nomograms of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates of patients. The performance of the prediction model was validated by the consistency index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and calibration plots.

Results

A total of 883 eligible patients were screened for inclusion in this study and randomized to the training cohort (70%, n = 619) and the validation cohort (30%, n = 264). The age-adjusted average incidence rate per 100,000 persons per year for HIV-associated CTCL was 0.071 for the period 2004-2017, with an increasing incidence rate. The median age of the included patients was 59 years, of which male Caucasian held a majority. 99.5% of the patients had a tumor tissue subtype of mycosis fungoides, while the other tumor subtypes were sézary syndrome. The median OS for patients with HIV-associated CTCL was 162 months, and the OS rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 0.964, 0.904, 0.835, and 0.766, respectively. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis were performed, and prognostic indicators such as “Age”, “Radiation”, “Chemotherapy”, “Summary stage”, “Sequence number” were ultimately incorporated and used to establish nomograms of OS and DSS rates at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years for the training cohort. The C-index, AUC, and calibration plot confirmed that our prediction model had good accuracy.

Conclusion

While HIV-associated CTCL is very rare, its incidence has been on the rise in the last decade or so. We described the epidemiological characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-associated CTCL.
Neonatal Arterial Tortuosity and Adult Aortic Aneurysm—Is There a Missing Link?—A Case Report
Authors: Bharadwaj Srabani , Chan Charmaine , Choo Tze Liang Jonathan , Sanamandra Sarat Kumar , Fortier Marielle Valerie , Koh Ai Ling , Sundararaghavan Sreekanthan
Published: March 2022

We report a novel case of a full term newborn with non-immune fetal hydrops and arterial tortuosity mimicking a double aortic arch, and cranial fractures in the immediate neonatal period. The infant had no classic features of neonatal arterial tortuosity syndrome or Loeys Dietz syndrome apart from bilateral inguinal hernia. He also had skeletal manifestations in the form of fractures in the neonatal period without any trauma during birth and without clinical evidence of Osteogenesis Imperfecta. A heterozygous missense variant of uncertain significance was detected in MYH11 gene which is increasingly recognized to be belonging to the familial/hereditary thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection group of disorders. Fetal hydrops as an association with arterial tortuosity has not been reported in the literature. We hypothesize the possible mechanism behind developing fetal hydrops in this case and discuss the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of the Familial Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection (FTAAD) group of conditions highlighting the unique phenotypic and genotypic presentations. We recommend a high index of suspicion and vigilance in the early detection of such potentially lethal conditions with sequelae also in adulthood.
Case Report: A Case Study on the Neurodevelopmental Profile of a Child With Pallister–Killian Syndrome and His Unaffected Twin
Authors: Samango-Sprouse Carole A. , Hamzik Mary P. , Rosenbaum Kenneth , Khaksari Kosar , Mitchell Francie , Kommareddi Ritika , Brooks Michaela R. , Tipton Elizabeth , Sadeghin Teresa , Gropman Andrea L.
Published: March 2022

Pallister–Killian syndrome is an uncommon genetic disorder that has broad developmental and multisystemic effects. While medical complications are widely reported throughout the literature, research on the neurodevelopmental profile has been limited. Case reports make up the majority of the few existing studies regarding the neurodevelopmental phenotype associated with this disorder. The current case report describes a 3-year-old male with Pallister–Killian syndrome (AF), reports the neurodevelopmental evaluation of his unaffected twin brother (MF), and outlines the results of an optical imaging study on both boys. AF presents with severe developmental delays, however, he ambulates with support and engages in conversation using his communication device. Most severely impaired was AF's speech and expressive language, with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) as a possible explanation for these severe deficits. MF, the sibling, demonstrated neurotypical abilities and often advanced scores for his age. Both subjects completed a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study, revealing decreased temporal and frontal lobe function in AF and typical functioning in MF. This case report expands on the existing literature on PKS by describing variances in fraternal twin presentation and novel reporting on fNIRS findings in both boys.
Effect of Fushengong Decoction on PTEN/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Pathway in Rats With Chronic Renal Failure via Dual-Dimension Network Pharmacology Strategy
Authors: Luo Hongyu , Wang Munan , Xu Ke , Peng Qiyao , Zou Bo , Yin Shi , Yu Chao , Ren Lingyan , Li Ping , Tang Li , Peng Yongbo , Huang Xuekuan
Published: March 2022

Overview: The treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) with traditional Chinese medicine has attracted much attention, but its mechanism is not clear. Network pharmacology is an effective strategy for exploring the interaction mechanisms between Chinese herbs and diseases, however, it still needs to be validated in cell and/or animal experiments due to its virtual screening characteristics. Herein, the anti-CRF mechanism of the Fushengong decoction (FSGD) was investigated using a dual-dimension network pharmacological strategy combined with in vivo experiment.

Methods: The traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database (https://tcmspw.com) and UHPLC-MS/MS technology were used to identify the effective compounds of FSGD in theory and practice, such as quercetin, formononetin, and pachymic acid. The putative targets of FSGD and CRF were obtained from the Swisstarget prediction platform and the Genecards database, respectively. The common target pathways between FSGD and CRF were got from the dual-dimension network pharmacology analysis, which integrated the cross-common targets from the TCMSP components-Swisstarget-Genecards-Venn platform analysis in theory, and the UHPLC-MS/MS identified effective ingredients-Swisstarget screening, such as TNF and PI3K/AKT. Furthermore, system molecular determinations were used to prove the dual-dimension network pharmacology study through CRF rat models, which were constructed using adenine and treated with FSGD for 4 weeks.

Results: A total of 121 and 9 effective compounds were obtained from the TCMSP database and UHPLC-MS/MS, respectively. After dual-dimension network pharmacology analysis, the possible mechanism of PTEN/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway was found for FSGD in CRF. In vivo experiments indicated that FSGD can play a role in protecting renal function and reducing fibrosis by regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. These findings provide a reference for FSGD in CRF.

Conclusion: Based on the theoretical and practical dual-dimension network pharmacology analysis for FSGD in CRF, the possible molecular mechanism of PTEN/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB was successfully predicted, and these results were verified by in vivo experiments. In this study, the dual-dimension network pharmacology was used to interpret the key signal pathway for FSGD in CRF, which also proved to be a smart strategy for the study of effective substances and pharmacology in FSGD.
Mechanistic Studies of Gypenosides in Microglial State Transition and its Implications in Depression-Like Behaviors: Role of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Cao Li-Hua , Zhao Yuan-Yuan , Bai Ming , Geliebter David , Geliebter Jan , Tiwari Raj , He Hong-Juan , Wang Zhen-zhen , Jia Xing-Yuan , Li Jin , Li Xiu-Min , Miao Ming-San
Published: March 2022

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder. Microglial state transition has been found in many neurological disorders including depression. Gypenosides (Gypenosides I-LXXVIII, Gps) are saponin extracts isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino that exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities and regulate depression-like behaviors. However, its effect on microglial state transition in depression remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the potential relationship between Gps and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in microglial state transition in vitro and in vivo. First, BV-2 cells (microglial cell line) were exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and treated with 10 or 5 μg/ml Gps. Second, the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression mouse model was used to investigate the antidepressant-like behaviors effects of Gps (100 or 50 mg/kg). We determined depression-like behaviors using the open-field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT). Proteins and inflammatory factors in the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and the different microglial reaction states markers were subsequently conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, qPCR, or Western blotting analyses to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties of Gps and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that Gps regulated the microglial cell line state transition in LPS-exposed BV-2 cells, as evidenced by the significantly decreased expression of inflammatory parameters iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and significantly promoted anti-inflammatory microglial phenotypes markers CD206 (Mrc1) and IL-10. More importantly, Gps protected against the loss of monoamine neurotransmitters and depression-like behavior in a mouse model of depression, which was accompanied by a regulation of the microglial state transition. Mechanistically, Gps inhibited TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling, which reduced the release of downstream inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and promoted microglial phenotype transition, which all together contributed to the antidepressant effect. Our results suggest that Gps prevents depression-like behaviors by regulating the microglial state transition and inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, Gps could be a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat depression-like behaviors and other psychiatric disorders.
Qishen Granule (QSG) Inhibits Monocytes Released From the Spleen and Protect Myocardial Function via the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB p65 Pathway in Heart Failure Mice
Authors: Li Yanqin , Li Xuan , Chen Xu , Sun Xiaoqian , Liu Xiangning , Wang Gang , Liu Yizhou , Cui Lingwen , Liu Tianhua , Wang Wei , Wang Yong , Li Chun
Published: March 2022

Preliminary clinical and basic researches have proved that Qishen granule (QSG) is an effective prescription for treating heart failure (HF) in China, with a characteristic of regulating the ratio of M1/M2 macrophage in the myocardium. However, the regulative mechanism of monocytes targeting the cardio-splenic axis has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of QSG inhibiting the release of splenic monocytes and the recruitment of myocardial tissue both in vivo and in vitro. Experiments in mice with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-induced HF demonstrated that QSG could exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting splenic monocytes release and phenotypic changes. Moreover, in vitro experiments indicated QSG could inhibit LPS-stimulated macrophage-conditioned medium (CM)-induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte injury by upregulating the key proteins in TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB p65 pathway. In addition, knockdown or overexpression of TLR4 in H9C2 cells further confirmed that QSG could attenuate inflammatory injury in cardiomyocytes via the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB p65 pathway. Overall, these data suggested that QSG could improve cardiac function and reduce the inflammatory response in AMI-induced HF by inhibiting splenic monocytes release, and protecting myocardial function via the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway in heart failure mice.
Anisotropic Magnetoresistance Effect of Intercalated Ferromagnet FeTa3S6
Authors: Miao Ying-Qing , Guo Jun-Jie , Luo Zi-Yan , Zhong Mian-Zeng , Li Bo , Wang Xi-Guang , Nie Yao-Zhuang , Xia Qing-Lin , Guo Guang-Hua
Published: March 2022

Intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides have been widely used to study the magnetic and magnetoelectric transport properties in a strong anisotropic and spin–orbit coupling environments. In this study, ferromagnetic FeTa3S6 (also known as Fe1/3TaS2) single crystals were grown by using the chemical vapor transport method, and its magnetic and magnetoelectric transport properties were measured. The results show that FeTa3S6 has ferromagnetic ordered below 37K, with sharp switching of magnetization, butterfly-shaped double-peak magnetoresistance and anomalous Hall effect, and the magnetization and resistance have strong anisotropy. When a magnetic field is oriented parallel to the c-axis, the magnetoresistance exceeds 10% at a temperature of 10K, and negative magnetoresistance is generated when the magnetic field is larger than the switching field. When the direction of the magnetic field of 9T rotates from out-of-plane to in-plane, the anisotropic magnetoresistance exceeds 40%, and the angle-dependent Hall resistance presents a novel trend, which may be due to the existence of a topological Hall effect or other magnetic structures in the FeTa3S6 thin film. When the magnetic field of 9T rotates in the ab-plane of the sample, the in-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance conforms to the form of sin2φ. The experimental results of this study provide important information for the study of magnetic and magnetoelectric transport properties of intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides.
Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements
Authors: Gedalin Michael , Golbraikh Ephim , Russell Christopher T. , Dimmock Andrew P.
Published: March 2022

The Mach number is one of the key parameters of collisionless shocks. Understanding shock physics requires knowledge of the spatial scales in the shock transition layer. The standard methods of determining the Mach number and the spatial scales require simultaneous measurements of the magnetic field and the particle density, velocity, and temperature. While magnetic field measurements are usually of high quality and resolution, particle measurements are often either unavailable or not properly adjusted to the plasma conditions. We show that theoretical arguments can be used to overcome the limitations of observations and determine the Mach number and spatial scales of the low-Mach number shock when only magnetic field data are available.
EAST/SeSAME Syndrome and Beyond: The Spectrum of Kir4.1- and Kir5.1-Associated Channelopathies
Authors: Lo Jacky , Forst Anna-Lena , Warth Richard , Zdebik Anselm A.
Published: March 2022

In 2009, two groups independently linked human mutations in the inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir4.1 (gene name KCNJ10) to a syndrome affecting the central nervous system (CNS), hearing, and renal tubular salt reabsorption. The autosomal recessive syndrome has been named EAST (epilepsy, ataxia, sensorineural deafness, and renal tubulopathy) or SeSAME syndrome (seizures, sensorineural deafness, ataxia, intellectual disability, and electrolyte imbalance), accordingly. Renal dysfunction in EAST/SeSAME patients results in loss of Na+, K+, and Mg2+ with urine, activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. Kir4.1 is highly expressed in affected organs: the CNS, inner ear, and kidney. In the kidney, it mostly forms heteromeric channels with Kir5.1 (KCNJ16). Biallelic loss-of-function mutations of Kir5.1 can also have disease significance, but the clinical symptoms differ substantially from those of EAST/SeSAME syndrome: although sensorineural hearing loss and hypokalemia are replicated, there is no alkalosis, but rather acidosis of variable severity; in contrast to EAST/SeSAME syndrome, the CNS is unaffected. This review provides a framework for understanding some of these differences and will guide the reader through the growing literature on Kir4.1 and Kir5.1, discussing the complex disease mechanisms and the variable expression of disease symptoms from a molecular and systems physiology perspective. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of these diseases and their multifaceted clinical spectrum is an important prerequisite for making the correct diagnosis and forms the basis for personalized therapies.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Hard and Tender Fruit Spines of Cucumber to Identify Genes Involved in the Morphological Development of Fruit Spines
Authors: Lv Duo , Wang Gang , Zhang Qi , Yu Yao , Qin Pei-Chao , Pang Jin-An , Sun Jing-Xian , Zhang Ke-Yan , He Huan-Le , Cai Run , Pan Jun-Song
Published: March 2022

The spines of cucumber fruit not only have important commercial value but are also a classical tissue to study cell division and differentiation modes of multicellular trichomes. It has been reported that CsTs (C-type Lectin receptor-like kinase) can influence the development of fruit spines. In this study, we took a pair of cucumber materials defined as hard (Ts, wild type) and tender spines (ts, mutant) and defined the developmental process of fruit spines as consisting of four stages (stage I to stage IV) by continuously observing by microscope and SEM. Comparisons of transcriptome profiles at different development stages of wild-type spines showed that 803 and 722 genes were upregulated in the stalk (stage II and stage III) and base (stage IV) development stages of fruit spines, respectively. The function analysis of DEGs showed that genes related to auxin polar transport and HD-ZIP transcription factor are significantly upregulated during the development of the stalk. bHLH transcription factors and cytoskeleton-related genes were significantly upregulated during the development of the base. In addition, stage III is the key point for the difference between wild-type and mutant spines. We detected 628 DEGs between wild type and mutant at stage III. These DEGs are mainly involved in the calcium signaling of the cytoskeleton and auxin polar transport. Coincidentally, we found that CsVTI11, a factor involved in auxin signal transmission, can interact with CsTs in vivo, but this interaction does not occur between CsVTI11 and Csts, further suggesting that CsTs may regulate the development of fruit spines by influencing cell polarity. These results provide useful tools to study the molecular networks associated with cucumber fruit spine development and elucidate the biological pathways that C-type Lectin receptor-like kinase plays in regulating the development of fruit spines.