bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biodefensive Based on Piper nigrum Essential Oil for Controlling of Anopheles aquasalis Larvae: Influence of Temperature (35 °C) and Preservatives
Authors: Marcião Vieira Ayná Caroline , Azevedo Sidney Gomes , Linhares Ramon Andrade , Brandão Justiniano Silvia Cássia , Pontes Grafe Oliveira , Lima Alessandra Ramos , Campelo Pedro Henrique , Bezerra Jaqueline de Araújo , da Costa Pinto Camila , Fonseca Filho Henrique Duarte da , Matos Robert Saraiva , Ţălu Ştefan , Bagnato Vanderlei Salvador , Inada Natalia Mayumi , Sanches Edgar Aparecido
Published: November 2022

Considerable efforts have been spent on the development of biodefensives based on the encapsulation of essential oils for controlling of urban pests from their larval stage, especially as anopheline controlling agents. The larval source management of Anopheles aquasalis is important for malaria prevention. For this reason, this research proposes larvicidal biodefensives based on polymeric particles loaded with Piper nigrum essential oil, considering the influence of temperature (35 °C) and preservatives on the formulation stability. The biodefensive containing the preservative phenoxyethanol/methylisothiazolinone (PNE) resulted in 5 months of shelf-life storage with an Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%) of essential oil of 70%. The biodefensive PNE (containing 500 µg.mL−1 of encapsulated essential oil) presented a polydisperse particle size distribution, ranging from D10 = (127 ± 10) nm to D90 = (472 ± 78) nm and a particle mean size of (236 ± 34) nm. The AFM images revealed a spherical morphology with an external surface almost regular and smooth. The controlled release of the essential oil was evaluated up to 72 h according to the Korsmeyer-Peppas mathematical model, confirming the anomalous transport (n = 0.64 in pH = 3 and pH = 10, and n = 0.65 in pH = 7). The total larvae mortality on the in loco bioassays was almost reached (92%) after 24 h. However, according to the in vitro bioassays applying the in natura essential oil alone, the concentration of 454 μg.mL−1 resulted on the mortality of 70% of the larvae after 24 h. For this reason, the highest efficiency of the biodefensive PNE may be related to the encapsulation of essential oil, delivering the loaded particles more efficiently inside the larvae. From this perspective, the present study shows that a formulation based on P. nigrum essential oil may be taken into account in the integrated management of disease vector mosquitoes.
Right Ventricle Remodelling in Left-Sided Heart Failure in Rats: The Role of Calcium Signalling
Authors: Paterek Aleksandra , Oknińska Marta , Mączewski Michał , Mackiewicz Urszula
Published: November 2022

Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) can follow primary pulmonary diseases, but the most common cause of its development is left-sided heart failure (HF). RVD is associated with HF progression, increased risk of death and hospitalisation. The mechanism of right ventricle (RV) remodelling leading to RVD due to left-sided HF is not fully elucidated. Rats underwent LAD ligation to induce extensive left ventricle (LV) myocardial infarction (MI) and subsequent left-sided HF. Sham-operated animals served as controls. After 8 weeks of follow-up, the animals underwent LV and RV catheterisation, and systolic function and intracellular Ca2+ signalling were assessed in cardiomyocytes isolated from both ventricles. We demonstrated that rats with LV failure induced by extensive LV myocardial infarction also develop RV failure, leading to symptomatic biventricular HF, despite only mildly increased RV afterload. The contractility of RV cardiomyocytes was significantly increased, which could be related to increased amplitude of Ca2+ transient, preserved SERCA2a activity and reduced Ca2+ efflux via NCX1 and PMCA. Our study indicates that RV failure associated with post-MI LV failure in a rat model cannot be explained by a decline in cardiomyocyte function. This indicates that other factors may play a role here, pointing to the need for further research to better understand the biology of RV failure in order to ultimately develop therapies targeting the RV.
The Ethnopharmacological Uses, Metabolite Diversity, and Bioactivity of Rhaponticum uniflorum (Leuzea uniflora): A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Olennikov Daniil N.
Published: November 2022

Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. (syn. Leuzea uniflora (L.) Holub) is a plant species of the Compositae (Asteraceae) family that is widely used in Asian traditional medicines in China, Siberia, and Mongolia as an anti-inflammatory and stimulant remedy. Currently, R. uniflorum is of scientific interest to chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists, and this review includes information from the scientific literature from 1991 to 2022. The study of the chemodiversity of R. uniflorum revealed the presence of 225 compounds, including sesquiterpenes, ecdysteroids, triterpenes, sterols, thiophenes, hydroxycinnamates, flavonoids, lignans, nucleosides and vitamins, alkanes, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. The most studied groups of substances are phenolics (76 compounds) and triterpenoids (69 compounds). Information on the methods of chromatographic analysis of selected compounds, as well as on the quantitative content of some components in various organs of R. uniflorum, is summarized in this work. It has been shown that the extracts and some compounds of R. uniflorum have a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunostimulatory, anxiolytic, stress-protective, actoprotective, antihypoxic, anabolic, hepatoprotective, inhibition of PPARγ receptors, anti-atherosclerotic, and hypolipidemic. Published research on the metabolites and bioactivity of R. uniflorum does not include clinical studies of extracts and pure compounds; therefore, an accurate study of this traditional medicinal plant is needed.
Evaluation of the Role of Faecal Calprotectin in the Management of Psoriatic Patients under Treatment with Biologic Drugs
Authors: Di Brizzi Eugenia Veronica , Rocco Annachiara , Babino Graziella , Buononato Dario , Argenziano Giuseppe , Balato Anna
Published: November 2022

Background: Fecal calprotectin has emerged as a significant, validated, and non-invasive biomarker allowing for the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease. Our study assessed the reliability of the use of faecal calprotectin as a valuable tool in the management of psoriatic patients on biological therapy. Methods: This was a single-centre prospective study including adult patients affected by moderate-to-severe psoriasis starting biological therapy. Faecal calprotectin levels were evaluated at baseline and at week 24 (W24) of treatment in all enrolled patients. Results: Overall, 129 patients were enrolled. The mean baseline faecal calprotectin levels were 74.7 μg/g and a significant reduction was detected at W24 of biological therapy (57.5 μg/g). An analysis of faecal CP values stratified by therapy type was performed. No significant reduction was assessed at W24 for any of the anti-IL17 drugs, whereas a significant reduction was detected for all IL23 inhibitors. Conclusions: Our study showed the potential use of faecal CP levels as a valuable tool for exploring intestinal inflammation in the management of psoriatic patients undergoing treatment with biologic drugs.
Antipsychotic Abuse, Dependence, and Withdrawal in the Pediatric Population: A Real-World Disproportionality Analysis
Authors: Merino Diane , Gérard Alexandre O. , Destere Alexandre , Askenazy Florence , Drici Milou-Daniel , Thümmler Susanne
Published: November 2022

Antipsychotic drugs (APs) aim to treat schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and behavioral symptoms. In child psychiatry, despite limited evidence regarding their efficacy and safety, APs are increasingly subject to off-label use. Studies investigating addictology-related symptoms in young people being scarce, we aimed to characterize the different patterns of AP misuse and withdrawal in children and adolescents relying on the WHO pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase®, Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Sweden). Using the standardized MedDRA Query ‘drug abuse, dependence and withdrawal’, disproportionality for each AP was assessed with the reporting odds ratio and the information component. A signal was detected when the lower end of the 95% confidence interval of the information component was positive. Results revealed mainly withdrawal symptoms in infants (under 2 years), intentional misuse in children (2 to 11 years), and abuse in adolescents (12 to 17 years). Olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, and quetiapine were disproportionately reported in all age groups, with quetiapine being subject to a specific abuse signal in adolescents. Thus, in adolescents, the evocation of possible recreational consumption may lead to addiction-appropriate care. Further, in young patients with a history of AP treatment, a careful anamnesis may allow one to identify misuse and its role in the case of new-onset symptoms.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa: The Influence of Gender, the Importance of Trigger Factors and the Implications for Patient Habits
Authors: Rosi Elia , Fastame Maria Thais , Silvi Gianmarco , Guerra Prisca , Nunziati Giulia , Di Cesare Antonella , Scandagli Ilaria , Ricceri Federica , Prignano Francesca
Published: November 2022

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating, chronic, inflammatory skin disease primarily affecting apocrine gland-rich areas of the body. On the one hand, the presence of triggering factors—some identified, others only hypothesized—may initiate or perpetuate the pathogenic process of HS. In addition to cigarette smoking and diet, other trigger factors, including choice of clothing, are frequently observed in clinical practice. On the other hand, the presence of disease may influence habits of HS patients. Indeed, high incidences of sexual and sleep impairment have been reported in these patients. Consequently, alcohol and substance abuse may be a coping strategy for the emotional and psychological disease burden. Furthermore, a greater awareness of gender differences in HS may be important for dermatologists in their own clinical practice (i.e., pregnancy and breastfeeding). Consequently, in this loop interaction, comprehensive knowledge of all factors involved is crucial for the management of HS patients. Thus, the objective of this review is to (i) discuss the influence of gender on HS, (ii) summarize the most frequent triggering factors of HS and (iii) analyze the impact of HS on patient habits.
Stroke-Prone SHR as Experimental Models for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction in Humans
Authors: Yamori Yukio , Sagara Miki , Mori Hideki , Mori Mari
Published: November 2022

Since stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) develop hypertension and stroke without exception, the prevention or reduction of risk by various nutrients was tested on blood pressure and the mortality caused by stroke and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In addition to sodium (Na) accelerating hypertension and stroke and potassium (K) counteracting the adverse effect of Na, taurine (Tau), rich in seafood, and magnesium (Mg) contained in soy, nuts, grains, etc., were proven to reduce stroke and CVD and improved survival. Therefore, the Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison Study was started in 1985 to explore the association of biomarkers of diet in 24 h urine(24U) with CVD risks, and about 100 males and 100 females aged 48–56 in each of 50 populations were studied until 1995. Linear regression analysis indicated that the 24U Tau/creatinine and Mg/creatinine ratios were inversely associated with body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol. In comparison with six Euro-Western regions, 24U Tau and Mg collected from six regions, respectively, in Japan and the Mediterranean countries were significantly higher and were significantly associated with lower CVD risks. Diets rich in Tau and Mg were concluded to be contributory to the prevention of CVD in SHRSP and humans.
The TRACK-MS Test Battery: A Very Brief Tool to Track Multiple Sclerosis-Related Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Taranu Daniela , Tumani Hayrettin , Holbrook Jill , Tumani Visal , Uttner Ingo , Fissler Patrick
Published: November 2022

Tracking cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is important for detection of disease progression but it is often not performed in routine settings due to time constraints. This exploratory cohort study aims to develop a very brief repeatable tracking tool with comparable test quality criteria to the current gold standard, the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS). The study included 88 participants (22 healthy controls, 66 MS patients) who were examined at baseline and at one-year follow-up. As a validity criterion for the six administered cognitive tests, we assessed the difference between MS patients and HC, and the correlation with MS-related disability. Combining the two tests with the highest validity—the Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test—yielded an administration time of 5 min. Comparing this new TRACK-MS test battery with the 15 min BICAMS indicated that TRACK-MS showed larger differences between MS patients and healthy controls, a higher correlation with MS-related disability, smaller practice effects, and a good test–retest reliability. We provide evidence that TRACK-MS, although faster to administer, showed at least comparable quality criteria as the BICAMS. As the study was exploratory, replication of these results is necessary.
Multiple Head Rotations Result in Persistent Gait Alterations in Piglets
Authors: Mull Mackenzie , Aderibigbe Oluwagbemisola , Hajiaghamemar Marzieh , Oeur R. Anna , Margulies Susan S
Published: November 2022

Multiple/repeated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in young children can cause long-term gait impairments and affect the developmental course of motor control. Using our swine model for mTBI in young children, our aim was to (i) establish a reference range (RR) for each parameter to validate injury and track recovery, and (ii) evaluate changes in gait patterns following a single and multiple (5×) sagittal rapid non-impact head rotation (RNR). Gait patterns were studied in four groups of 4-week-old Yorkshire swine: healthy (n = 18), anesthesia-only sham (n = 8), single RNR injury (n = 12) and multiple RNR injury (n = 11). Results were evaluated pre-injury and at 1, 4, and 7 days post-injury. RR reliability was validated using additional healthy animals (n = 6). Repeated mTBI produced significant increases in gait time, cycle time, and stance time, as well as decreases in gait velocity and cadence, on Day One post-injury compared to pre-injury, and these remained significantly altered at Day Four and Day Seven post-injury. The gait metrics of the repeated TBI group also significantly fell outside the healthy RR on Day One, with some recovery by Day Four, while many remained altered at Day Seven. Only a bilateral decrease in hind stride length was observed at Day Four in our single RNR group compared to pre-injury. In sum, repeated and single sagittal TBI can significantly impair motor performance, and gait metrics can serve as reliable, objective, quantitative functional assessments in a juvenile porcine RNR TBI model.
H19 and TUG1 lncRNAs as Novel Biomarkers for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Esawy Marwa M. , Saleh Al-Sowayan Noorah , Mobasher Maysa A. , Abd-elhameed Amir , Abd elbaser Elsayed S. , Baioumy Shereen A. , Shabana Marwa A.
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder due to enteric nervous system impairment that produces different patterns of digestion. IBS is a common finding in diabetic patients. The functions of lncRNAs in IBS are still not clear and need to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic roles of lncRNA H19 and TUG1 for IBS associated with diabetes and to evaluate their association with clinical and laboratory findings. Subjects and Methods: Samples from 42 diabetic patients, 42 diabetic patients with IBS, and 42 healthy controls were obtained. The LncRNA H19 and TUG1 expressions were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The patients with IBS had significantly lower levels of lncRNA H19 and TUG1 expression than the healthy controls and diabetic-only patients (p < 0.001). LncRNA H19 and TUG1 can discriminate between diabetic-only patients and those with IBS (areas under the ROC curves of 0.95 and 0.722, respectively). The TUG1 expression levels were significantly different among types of IBS (IBS-D lower than IBS-M and IBS-C lower than IBS-M; p = 0.0165 and p = 0.043, respectively). H19 and TUG1 were downregulated in patients with poor glycemic control. lncRNA H19 and TUG1 expression in diabetic patients with IBS significantly negatively correlated with the IBS severity scoring system. Both lncRNAs’ expression significantly predicted the disease severity. LncRNA H19 expression can be an independent predictor for disease severity (adjusted odds ratio = 0.00001, 95% CI = 0–0.5, p = 0.045). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with IBS had significantly lower levels of lncRNA H19 and TUG1 expression than healthy controls and diabetic-only patients. LncRNA H19 had better diagnostic performance criteria for IBS. LncRNA H19 expression can be an independent predictor for IBS severity.
Leukotriene B4 Receptor 2 Mediates the Production of G-CSF That Plays a Critical Role in Steroid-Resistant Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation
Authors: Kwak Dong-Wook , Park Donghwan , Kim Jae-Hong
Published: November 2022

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been suggested to be closely associated with neutrophilic asthma pathogenesis. However, little is known about the factors regulating the production of G-CSF in neutrophilic asthma. We previously reported that a leukotriene B4 receptor 2, BLT2, played an important role in neutrophilic airway inflammation. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated whether BLT2 plays a role in the production of G-CSF in lipopolysaccharide/ovalbumin (LPS/OVA)-induced steroid-resistant neutrophilic asthma. The data showed that BLT2 critically mediated G-CSF production, contributing to the progression of neutrophilic airway inflammation. We also observed that 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO), which catalyzes the synthesis of the BLT2 ligand 12(S)-HETE, was also necessary for G-CSF production. Together, these results suggest that the 12-LO-BLT2-linked signaling network is critical for the production of G-CSF, contributing to the development of neutrophilic airway inflammation. Our findings can provide a potential new target for the therapy of severe neutrophilic asthma.
The Binding Specificity of PAB1 with Poly(A) mRNA, Regulated by Its Structural Folding
Authors: Padariya Monikaben , Kalathiya Umesh
Published: November 2022

The poly(A)-binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PAB1 or PABPC1) protein is associated with the long poly(A) mRNA tails, inducing stability. Herein, we investigated the dynamics of the PABPC1 protein, along with tracing its mRNA binding specificity. During molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), the R176-Y408 amino acids (RRM3–4 domains; RNA recognition motifs) initiated a folded structure that resulted in the formation of different conformations. The RRM4 domain formed high-frequency intramolecular interactions, despite such induced flexibility. Residues D45, Y54, Y56, N58, Q88, and N100 formed long-lasting interactions, and specifically, aromatic residues (Y14, Y54, Y56, W86, and Y140) gained a unique binding pattern with the poly(A) mRNA. In addition, the poly(A) mRNA motif assembled a PABPC1-specific conformation, by inducing movement of the center three nucleotides to face towards RRM1–2 domains. The majority of the high-frequency cancer mutations in PAB1 reside within the RRM4 domain and amino acids engaging in high-frequency interactions with poly(A) mRNA were found to be preserved in different cancer types. Except for the G123C variant, other studied cancer-derived mutants hindered the stability of the protein. Molecular details from this study will provide a detailed understanding of the PABPC1 structure, which can be used to modulate the activity of this gene, resulting in production of mutant peptide or neoantigens in cancer.
Impact of Aβ40 and Aβ42 Fibrils on the Transcriptome of Primary Astrocytes and Microglia
Authors: Zhu Xiaoyue , Schrader Joseph M. , Irizarry Brandon A. , Smith Steven O. , Van Nostrand William E.
Published: November 2022

Fibrillar amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits in the brain, which are primarily composed of Aβ40 or Aβ42 peptides, are key pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related disorders. Although the underlying mechanisms are still not clear, the Aβ fibrils can trigger a number of cellular responses, including activation of astrocytes and microglia. In addition, fibril structures of the Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides are known to be polymorphic, which poses a challenge for attributing the contribution of different Aβ sequences and structures to brain pathology. Here, we systematically treated primary astrocytes and microglia with single, well-characterized polymorphs of Aβ40 or Aβ42 fibrils, and performed bulk RNA sequencing to assess cell-specific changes in gene expression. A greater number of genes were up-regulated by Aβ42 fibril-treated glial cells (251 and 2133 genes in astrocyte and microglia, respectively) compared with the Aβ40 fibril-treated glial cells (191 and 251 genes in astrocytes and microglia, respectively). Immunolabeling studies in an AD rat model with parenchymal fibrillar Aβ42 plaques confirmed the expression of PAI-1, MMP9, MMP12, CCL2, and C1r in plaque-associated microglia, and iNOS, GBP2, and C3D in plaque-associated astrocytes, validating markers from the RNA sequence data. In order to better understand these Aβ fibril-induced gene changes, we analyzed gene expression patterns using the Ingenuity pathway analysis program. These analyses further highlighted that Aβ42 fibril treatment up-regulated cellular activation pathways and immune response pathways in glial cells, including IL1β and TNFα in astrocytes, and microglial activation and TGFβ1 in microglia. Further analysis revealed that a number of disease-associated microglial (DAM) genes were surprisingly suppressed in Aβ40 fibril treated microglia. Together, the present findings indicate that Aβ42 fibrils generally show similar, but stronger, stimulating activity of glial cells compared with Aβ40 fibril treatment.
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) Expression Can Be Modulated via NFκB
Authors: Zia Saadiya , Tehreem Komal , Batool Sidra , Ishfaq Mehreen , Mirza Shaher Bano , Khan Shahrukh , Almashjary Majed N. , Hazzazi Mohannad S. , Qanash Husam , Shaikh Ahmad , Baty Roua S. , Jafri Ibrahim , Alsubhi Nouf H. , Alrefaei Ghadeer I. , Sami Rokayya , Shahid Ramla
Published: November 2022

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is considered an essential proliferation signature in cancer. In the current research study, qPCR induced expression of EpCAM was noted in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone found in crepe ginger and lettuce, is a medicinal herb with anticancer properties. Expression of EpCAM and its downstream target genes (Myc and TERT) wasdownregulated upon treatment with costunolide in Jurkat cells. A significant change in the telomere length of Jurkat cells was not noted at 72 h of costunolide treatment. An in silico study revealed hydrophobic interactions between EpCAM extracellular domain and Myc bHLH with costunolide. Reduced expression of NFκB, a transcription factor of EpCAM, Myc, and TERT in costunolide-treated Jurkat cells, suggested that costunolide inhibits gene expression by targeting NFκB and its downstream targets. Overall, the study proposes that costunolide could be a promising therapeutic biomolecule for leukemia.
A Worm-like Crawling Soft Robot with Pneumatic Actuators Based on Selective Laser Sintering of TPU Powder
Authors: Du Tianhao , Sun Lechen , Wan Jingjing
Published: November 2022

Soft robotics is one of the most popular areas in the field of robotics due to advancements in bionic technology, novel materials, and additive manufacturing. Existing soft crawling robots with specific structures have a single locomotion mode and cannot complete turning. Moreover, some silicone-based robots lack stiffness, leading to unstable movements especially when climbing walls, and have limited environmental adaptability. Therefore, in this study, a novel crawling soft robot with a multi-movement mode and high environmental adaptability is proposed. As the main structure of the robot, pneumatic single-channeled and double-channeled actuators are designed, inspired by the worm’s somite expansion and contraction. Model-based methods are employed to evaluate and analyze the characteristics of the actuators. By the application of selective laser sintering technology and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, the fabricated actuators with an auxetic cavity structure are able to maintain a certain stiffness. Via the coordination between the actuators and the suckers, two locomotion modes—straight-line and turning—are realized. In the testing, the speed of straight-line crawling was 7.15 mm/s, and the single maximum turning angle was 28.8 degrees. The testing verified that the robot could realize crawling on flat ground, slopes, and smooth vertical walls with a certain stability and equipment-carrying capacity. This research could lay the foundation for subsequent applications, including large tank interior inspections, civil aviation fuselage and wing inspections, and wall-cleaning in high-rise buildings.
Recent Advances of Organ-on-a-Chip in Cancer Modeling Research
Authors: Liu Xingxing , Su Qiuping , Zhang Xiaoyu , Yang Wenjian , Ning Junhua , Jia Kangle , Xin Jinlan , Li Huanling , Yu Longfei , Liao Yuheng , Zhang Diming
Published: November 2022

Although many studies have focused on oncology and therapeutics in cancer, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Due to the unclear molecular mechanism and complex in vivo microenvironment of tumors, it is challenging to reveal the nature of cancer and develop effective therapeutics. Therefore, the development of new methods to explore the role of heterogeneous TME in individual patients’ cancer drug response is urgently needed and critical for the effective therapeutic management of cancer. The organ-on-chip (OoC) platform, which integrates the technology of 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and microfluidics, is emerging as a new method to simulate the critical structures of the in vivo tumor microenvironment and functional characteristics. It overcomes the failure of traditional 2D/3D cell culture models and preclinical animal models to completely replicate the complex TME of human tumors. As a brand-new technology, OoC is of great significance for the realization of personalized treatment and the development of new drugs. This review discusses the recent advances of OoC in cancer biology studies. It focuses on the design principles of OoC devices and associated applications in cancer modeling. The challenges for the future development of this field are also summarized in this review. This review displays the broad applications of OoC technique and has reference value for oncology development.
Polydopamine-Coated Co3O4 Nanoparticles as an Efficient Catalase Mimic for Fluorescent Detection of Sulfide Ion
Authors: Vu Trung Hieu , Nguyen Phuong Thy , Kim Moon Il
Published: November 2022

Surface engineering of nanozymes has been recognized as a potent strategy to improve their catalytic activity and specificity. We synthesized polydopamine-coated Co3O4 nanoparticles (PDA@Co3O4 NPs) through simple dopamine-induced self-assembly and demonstrated that these NPs exhibit catalase-like activity by decomposing H2O2 into oxygen and water. The activity of PDA@Co3O4 NPs was approximately fourfold higher than that of Co3O4 NPs without PDA, possibly due to the additional radical scavenging activity of the PDA shell. In addition, PDA@Co3O4 NPs were more stable than natural catalase under a wide range of pH, temperature, and storage time conditions. Upon the addition of a sample containing sulfide ion, the activity of PDA@Co3O4 NPs was significantly inhibited, possibly because of increased mass transfer limitations via the absorption of the sulfide ion on the PDA@Co3O4 NP surface, along with NP aggregation which reduced their surface area. The reduced catalase-like activity was used to determine the levels of sulfide ion by measuring the increased fluorescence of the oxidized terephthalic acid, generated from the added H2O2. Using this strategy, the target sulfide ion was sensitively determined to a lower limit of 4.3 µM and dynamic linear range of up to 200 µM. The fluorescence-based sulfide ion assay based on PDA@Co3O4 NPs was highly precise when applied to real tap water samples, validating its potential for conveniently monitoring toxic elements in the environment.
Nanoporous ZIF-8 Microparticles as Acetylcholinesterase and Alkaline Phosphatase Mimics for the Selective and Sensitive Detection of Ascorbic Acid Oxidase and Copper Ions
Authors: Chen Guo-Ying , Yin Shi-Jun , Chen Li , Zhou Xi , Yang Feng-Qing
Published: November 2022

In this study, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-like activity of zeolitic-imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is reported for the first time. Then, colorimetric sensors for the ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) and copper ion (Cu2+) detection were developed based on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE)- and ALP-like activities of ZIF-8. The ZIF-8 has good mimetic enzyme activity and exhibits high affinity to the substrates. Its AChE- and ALP-like activities also have good reusability and storage stability. Good linear dependences are obtained in the range of 1.3−250.0 μM (AChE-like activity-based) and 4.5−454.5 μM (ALP-like activity based) for Cu2+ detection. Furthermore, good linear dependence is also obtained based on the ALP-like activity of ZIF-8 for AAO detection in the range of 2.3−454.5 U/L. Their limits of detection (LODs) are calculated to be 0.7 µM, 2.8 µM, and 1.8 U/L, respectively. Finally, the sample spiked recoveries of Cu2+ in tap water, Cu2+, and AAO in human serum and rabbit plasma were measured, and the results are in the range of 80.0−119.3%. In short, the preparation of ZIF-8 is simple, environmentally friendly, and harmless, and can realize highly selective detection of AAO and Cu2+ in an efficient and fast process.
Micro-Raman Analysis of Sperm Cells on Glass Slide: Potential Label-Free Assessment of Sperm DNA toward Clinical Applications
Authors: Du Shengrong , Zhang Qun , Guan Haohao , Chen Guannan , Wang Sisi , Sun Yan , Li Yuling , Chen Rong , He Youwu , Huang Zufang
Published: November 2022

Routine assessment of sperm DNA integrity involves the time-consuming and complex process of staining sperm chromatin. Here, we report a Raman spectroscopy method combined with extended multiplicative signal correction (EMSC) for the extraction of characteristic fingerprints of DNA-intact and DNA-damaged sperm cells directly on glass slides. Raman results of sperm cell DNA integrity on glass substrates were validated one-to-one with clinical sperm cell staining. Although the overall Raman spectral pattern showed considerable similarity between DNA-damaged and DNA-intact sperm cells, differences in specific Raman spectral responses were observed. We then employed and compared multivariate statistical analysis based on principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and the classifications were validated by leave-one-out-cross-validation (LOOCV) and k-fold cross-validation methods. In comparison, the PLS-DA model showed relatively better results in terms of diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and the classification rate between the sperm DNA damaged group and the DNA intact group. Our results demonstrate the potential of Raman based label-free DNA assessment of sperm cell on glass substrates as a simple method toward clinical applications.
Future Prospects of Luminescent Silicon Nanowires Biosensors
Authors: Lo Faro Maria , Leonardi Antonio , Priolo Francesco , Fazio Barbara , Irrera Alessia
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we exploit the perspective of luminescent Si nanowires (NWs) in the growing field of commercial biosensing nanodevices for the selective recognition of proteins and pathogen genomes. We fabricated quantum confined fractal arrays of Si NWs with room temperature emission at 700 nm obtained by thin-film, metal-assisted, chemical etching with high production output at low cost. The fascinating optical features arising from multiple scattering and weak localization of light promote the use of Si NWs as optical biosensing platforms with high sensitivity and selectivity. In this work, label-free Si NW optical sensors are surface modified for the selective detection of C-reactive protein through antigen–gene interaction. In this case, we report the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 1.6 fM, fostering the flexibility of different dynamic ranges for detection either in saliva or for serum analyses. By varying the NW surface functionalization with the specific antigen, the luminescence quenching of NW biosensors is used to measure the hepatitis B-virus pathogen genome without PCR-amplification, with an LOD of about 20 copies in real samples or blood matrix. The promising results show that NW optical biosensors can detect and isolate extracellular vesicles (EV) marked with CD81 protein with unprecedented sensitivity (LOD 2 × 105 sEV/mL), thus enabling their measurement even in a small amount of blastocoel fluid.
Effect of Virtual Reality on Cognitive Impairment and Clinical Symptoms among Patients with Schizophrenia in the Remission Stage: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Shangda , Liu Renchuan , Sun Bin , Wei Ning , Shen Zhe , Xu Yi , Huang Manli
Published: November 2022

Aims: This intervention study evaluates the effect of a virtual reality cognition training system (VRCTS) on improving cognitive function and clinical symptoms in Han Chinese patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage were recruited for this study and were randomly allocated to either the virtual reality training (VRT) group or the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group. For the VRT group, patients received training with the VRCTS for two weeks and antipsychotic treatment as usual, while the TAU group only received antipsychotic treatment as usual. Cognitive function and clinical symptoms before and after the two-week treatment were assessed by the MATRICS consensus cognitive battery (MCCB), positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and personal and social performance scale (PSP). Results: The results showed that (1) VRCTS could improve MCCB composite scores and scores on 2 out of 7 cognitive domains: visual learning as well as reasoning and problem solving. It was also observed that (2) VRCTS could alleviate general psychopathology symptoms of PANSS, but did not exert effects on positive and negative symptoms among patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage. Conclusions: A therapeutic effect of VRCTS was observed in patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage. This may improve cognitive function and general psychopathological symptoms. Trial registration: China Clinical Trial Registry, ChiVTR1800016121.
Musical Experience Relates to Insula-Based Functional Connectivity in Older Adults
Authors: Ai Meishan , Loui Psyche , Morris Timothy P. , Chaddock-Heyman Laura , Hillman Charles H. , McAuley Edward , Kramer Arthur F.
Published: November 2022

Engaging in musical activities throughout the lifespan may protect against age-related cognitive decline and modify structural and functional connectivity in the brain. Prior research suggests that musical experience modulates brain regions that integrate different modalities of sensory information, such as the insula. Most of this research has been performed in individuals classified as professional musicians; however, general musical experiences across the lifespan may also confer beneficial effects on brain health in older adults. The current study investigated whether general musical experience, characterized using the Goldsmith Music Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI), was associated with functional connectivity in older adults (age = 65.7 ± 4.4, n = 69). We tested whether Gold-MSI was associated with individual differences in the functional connectivity of three a priori hypothesis-defined seed regions in the insula (i.e., dorsal anterior, ventral anterior, and posterior insula). We found that older adults with more musical experience showed greater functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior insula and the precentral and postcentral gyrus, and between the ventral anterior insula and diverse brain regions, including the insula and prefrontal cortex, and decreased functional connectivity between the ventral anterior insula and thalamus (voxel p < 0.01, cluster FWE p < 0.05). Follow-up correlation analyses showed that the singing ability subscale score was key in driving the association between functional connectivity differences and musical experience. Overall, our findings suggest that musical experience, even among non-professional musicians, is related to functional brain reorganization in older adults.
The Association between High Mobility Group Box 1 and Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: E Yan , Deng Qiwen , Shi Guomei , Li Zhongyuan , Liu Chengfang , Wang Siyu , Lian Huiwen , Cao Haiming , Zhang Xiaohao , Zhang Yingdong , Gong Pengyu , Jiang Teng
Published: November 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between high-mobility-group box 1 (HMGB1) and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Methods: AIS patients were enrolled in two centers. The serum samples were collected within the first 24 h after admission, and HMGB1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of SAP for HMGB1 concentrations. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were performed to explore the shapes of the association between HMGB1 concentrations and SAP. Results: From January 2022 to May 2022, a total of 420 AIS patients were enrolled. Ninety-six (22.9%) patients develop SAP. The levels of HMGB1 in the SAP group were higher than those in the non-SAP group (p < 0.001). Using the first quartile of HMGB1 group as a reference, patients in the fourth quartile of HMGB1 group had the highest likelihood of experiencing SAP in the unadjusted model (OR = 3.687; 95% CI: 1.851–7.344), age- and sex-adjusted model (OR = 3.511; 95% CI: 1.725–7.147), and multivariable-adjusted model (OR = 2.701; 95% CI: 1.045–6.981). HMGB1 was also independently associated with SAP as a continuous variable in the unadjusted model (OR = 1.132; 95% CI: 1.069–1.199), age- and sex-adjusted model (OR = 1.131; 95% CI: 1.066–1.200), and multivariable-adjusted model (OR = 1.096; 95% CI: 1.011–1.188). RCS showed a linear association between HMGB1 and SAP (p for linear trend = 0.008) Conclusions: HMGB1 might be able to act as a potential biomarker of SAP in AIS patients.
Personality Traits and Family Environment: Antecedents of Child Aggression
Authors: Lone Ayoob , Albotuaiba Azzam Othman
Published: November 2022

Previous research reported significant relationship between Big Five personality traits and aggression in both adolescent’s and adult population. However, it is unclear about whether similar connection exist in early age. This study investigated how personality traits and family environment influence the development of aggression in school aged Saudi children. A sample of 315 school going children were recruited voluntarily to complete a set of measures examining Big Five personality factors, family environment and aggression. Correlation analysis were employed to evaluate association between Big Five personality traits, family environment and aggression. The results showed a significant relationship of Big Five personality factors and family environment factors to aggression. The findings of the study revealed that amongst the Big Five personality traits conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism were strongest antecedents of childhood aggression. Family environment characterized by family cohesion, expressiveness and conflict were appeared to be significant antecedents of aggressive behavior in children. This study expands our knowledge about the intervention strategies of aggression from Big Five traits and family environment perspectives.
A Qualitative Assessment among Personnel Working in Community-Led Development Program Settings Regarding Sexualized Substance Use
Authors: Marik Binata , Mahajan Nupur , Sarkar Rohit , Mitra Rochana , Dua Rajiv , Aggarwal Sumit
Published: November 2022

Sexualized substance use (SSU) is the practice of psychotropic substance use before or during sex to increase sexual pleasure. The growing use of SSU has a strong association with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Community health mobilizers (CHMs) are agents who assist in decreasing the global burden of disease in the communities they serve. They work as unit managers, counselors, or field workers. The managers and counselors have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and field workers have a minimum of a higher secondary education. This study aimed to qualitatively assess the knowledge gaps regarding SSU among CHMs. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in New Delhi, India with nineteen CHMs. Majority of the CHMs were men (n = 9, 47%) followed by transgender (TG) persons (TG females n = 5, 26.3%; TG males n = 1, 5.2%), and women (n = 4, 21.1%). Knowledge gaps were identified among the CHMs regarding different types of sexualized substances, drug procurement, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention, and complex health issues associated with SSU. It suggested the need for periodic workshops and training for upgradation of existing knowledge and practices among the CHMs. This formative research may help social scientists to develop protocols for conducting multi-centric, community-based studies across the country for further validation and exploration.
Performance Evaluation of Hybrid One-Part Alkali Activated Materials (AAMs) for Concrete Structural Repair
Authors: Yusslee Eddy , Beskhyroun Sherif
Published: November 2022

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have been widely used as an alternative to Portland cement. This production of AAMs emits lesser carbon dioxide by utilizing industrial waste products to make this cement binder technology greener and more sustainable. The conventional two-part system comprises solid aluminosilicate precursors with an alkali solution to activate the AAMs. However, higher alkalinity of the liquid activator is required to complete the geopolymerazation process, making the cementitious materials costly and sticky, and thus not convenient to handle on the construction site, affecting the worker’s safety. A one-part AAMs system was introduced to overcome the two-part system’s shortcomings. The alkali solution is now replaced with a solid alkali activator which is easier and more practical to apply at construction sites. This study was carried out to evaluate the mechanical performance of one-part alkali AAMs in the form of mortar by conducting compressive and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and tensile strength tests at 28 days of curing age under laboratory experiments in the tropical climate of Malaysia. A drying shrinkage test was also performed to detect its durability. Three types of solid admixtures were added to complete the composition of the novel mix design formulation. According to the results obtained, the mechanical strength of one-part alkali-activated mortar achieved the minimum requirement for Class R3 structural concrete repair materials as per EN1504-3 specifications. This eco-friendly cement binder has excellent potential for further engineering development, particularly to become a new concrete repair product in the future.
Review of Digital Twins for Constructed Facilities
Authors: Khallaf Rana , Khallaf Lama , Anumba Chimay J. , Madubuike Obinna C.
Published: November 2022

Technological advances have enabled the monitoring and control of construction operations and assets remotely. Digital twins, based on computational modeling, have enabled the creation of a digital map for physical structures. Research on digital twins (DTs) for constructed facilities projects has gained widespread traction in the industry. While these applications have increased over the years, there has been sparse review of them. This paper systematically reviews the applications of digital twins in construction using content analysis. We identified and analyzed 53 academic journal and conference papers, which revealed several DT applications that could be categorized into nine areas: lifecycle analysis, facility management, energy, education, disaster, structural health monitoring, DT for cities, infrastructure management, and miscellaneous. This enables the visualization of the current state of DT, comparison with the desired state, and possible integrations with other technologies. Among the observed benefits of DTs are the ability to increase engagement and collaboration, reduce construction and operating costs, reduce human error, automate energy demand, manage assets throughout their lifecycle, and apply structural health monitoring. It also enables the collection of real-time data on an asset’s status, history, maintenance needs, and provides an interactive platform for managing an asset. Future directions include addressing how to standardize data acquisition as well as the semantic interoperability and heterogeneity of data. Additionally, modeling human cognitive processes as well as spatiotemporal information would be beneficial to a smart city and other infrastructure systems, especially in disaster situations.
Survival Prediction after Curative Resection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma by Imaging-Based Intratumoral Necrosis
Authors: Kim Hokun , Kim Dong Hwan , Song In Hye , Kim Bohyun , Oh Soon Nam , Choi Joon-Il , Rha Sung Eun
Published: November 2022

We aimed to determine the histopathological characteristics and prognosis of curatively resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) showing intratumoral necrosis on preoperative CT or MRI. This study consecutively included 102 patients who underwent upfront surgery with margin-negative resection from 2012 to 2020. All patients underwent both pancreatic CT and MRI within 1 month before surgery. Two radiologists independently assessed CT/MRI findings, including the presence of CT- and MRI-detected necrosis. Histopathological characteristics of PDACs according to CT or MRI detection of necrosis were evaluated. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed by the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Among the 102 PDAC patients, 14 patients (13.7%) had CT-detected necrosis, and 16 patients (15.7%) had MRI-detected necrosis, of which 9 showed both CT- and MRI-detected necrosis. PDACs with CT- or MRI-detected necrosis demonstrated a significantly higher degree of histopathological necrosis than those without (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that tumor size (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19; p = 0.040), tumor location (HR, 0.46; p = 0.009), and MRI-detected necrosis (HR, 2.64; p = 0.002) had independent associations with DFS. Only MRI-detected necrosis was significantly associated with OS (HR, 2.59; p = 0.004). Therefore, MRI-detected necrosis might be a potential imaging predictor of poor survival after curative resection of PDAC.