bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacto da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 na saúde mental de gestantes e puérperas: uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Silva Martha Laura Leão dos Santos , Santos Livia Rocha , Pereira Bruna Maria de Carvalho , Veiga Ana Vitória Meireles , Mass Daniela Winckler , Attem Marinice Saraiva , Santos Lúcia Maria de Sousa Aguiar dos
Published: August 2021

Objetivo: Analisar o impacto da pandemia na saúde mental de gestantes e puérperas relacionando os principais preditores da piora clínica psiquiátrica materna. Métodos: Revisão de Literatura Integrativa, cujos artigos foram buscados nas bases de dados Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), PUBMED e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe (LILACS). Foram incluídos para a realização do estudo vinte e nove artigos publicados entre 2019 e 2021. Resultados: Com o advento da pandemia da covid-19, estudos mostram que gestantes estão vivenciando altos níveis de ansiedade e sintomas depressivos, divergindo dos tempos de pré-covid período no qual tais distúrbios psíquicos haviam menor incidência de casos relatados. Além disso, longos períodos de quarentena estão relacionados a um sofrimento psicológico mais grave. Também, foi possível observar na literatura que as mulheres que já apresentavam a saúde mental comprometida desde o início da gestação, possuem risco aumentado de desenvolver depressão pós parto, tendo, nesses casos, como fator protetor o aleitamento materno até o 3° mês do puerpério. Considerações Finais: Somada a todas as mudanças e adaptações já esperadas na gravidez, as gestantes lidam com os efeitos secundários da covid-19. Assim, evidencia-se a relação direta entre a pandemia pelo Sars-CoV-2 e os sérios desafios psicológicos, que geram potencial aumento na incidência de ansiedade e depressão entre as gestantes, bem como, depressão pós parto em puérperas.
Aplicação do Therapeutic Interventions Scoring System (TISS-28) em pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca
Authors: Silva Mariana Veiga da , Malheiros Nickson Scarpine , Sampaio Carlos Eduardo Peres , Cerqueira Luciana da Costa Nogueira , Timoteo Anna Carolina das Neves , Pereira Leonardo dos Santos
Published: August 2021

Objetivo: mensurar a carga horária de enfermagem ao paciente pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca, segundo o escore TISS-28. Questão norteadora: Qual a carga horaria de enfermagem ao paciente pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca?  Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo analítico de abordagem quantitativa, descritivo e exploratório. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma Unidade de Tratamento Intensivo adulto, privada, do Município de Cabo Frio no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Tendo como sujeitos da pesquisa os pacientes pós-operatórios de Cirurgia Cardíaca imediata. Resultados: Foram avaliados 87 pacientes internados em uma unidade de terapia intensiva. Em cada paciente, após a cirurgia, foi aplicado o escore TISS-28 para calcular o número de pontos obtidos a partir das intervenções necessárias em sua assistência. Conclusão: Foi obtido um elevado número da carga horaria de assistência de enfermagem, foi possível acompanhar a gravidade dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgias cardíacas.
Detection of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and virulence genes in poultry products marketed in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Melo Felipe Pereira de , Silva Priscila Oliveira da , Clemente Saruanna Millena dos Santos , Melo Renata Pimentel Bandeira de , Silva José Givanildo da , Pinheiro Júnior José Wilton , Fonseca Belchiolina Beatriz , Mendonça Marcelo , Barros Mércia Rodrigues
Published: August 2021

In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobcater coli, and virulence genes in fresh, chilled, and frozen chicken carcasses with livers and gizzards sold in public markets and supermarkets. Of the 90 samples analyzed, C. jejuni was the most prevalent, with 28.8% of positive samples, whereas C. coli was positive in 15.6% of samples. In public market samples, C. coli had a higher prevalence than C. jejuni, with 16.7% positive samples detected, whereas in supermarket samples, C. jejuni was more prevalent (36.7% positivity). C. jejuni was detected in all forms of commercialized carcasses; however, there was a higher prevalence (43.3%) in chilled samples than C. coli, which was not detected in frozen samples but showed a higher prevalence (16.7%) in fresh samples. Both species were detected in different poultry products, with C. jejuni being more prevalent (53.3%) in liver samples. C. coli showed a higher prevalence in samples of meat pieces (10%). The presence of five virulence genes related to adherence (Peb1, JlpA, CadF, and CapA) and invasion (CiaB) was also observed in both species.
Inclusão: A luta da comunidade surda e dos profissionais intérpretes de Libras
Authors: Boaventura Filho Nivaldo de Oliveira , Santos Luidy Siqueira , Fonseca Lilian Simone Godoy
Published: August 2021

O presente artigo trata da educação de surdos e da importância do reconhecimento da Língua Brasileira de Sinais - LIBRAS para tal, já que a língua é pressuposto para o pensamento, para a inclusão e, mais além, para o sentido de existência. A história da inclusão traz avanços e retrocessos, conforme o relato de um deficiente visual, citado no estudo, ao dizer das diferenças da escola especial e escola regulares. Muitas outras mudanças incluem o profissional tradutor/intérprete de Libras, com relação às confusões a respeito das funções e responsabilidades dos mesmos, os avanços e retrocessos nas legislações, como a extinção da carreira nas unidades federais, a precarização no atendimento aos alunos, as questões éticas, ergonômicas e formativas da profissão. Ficou demonstrado, pela pesquisa realizada nas instituições de ensino superior da rede federal presentes no Estado de Minas Gerais, o quanto é defasado e demandado o quadro de intérpretes nessas instituições, para que a inclusão ocorra de forma satisfatória.
Ações antrópicas e exploração dos recursos ambientais no meio rural, no norte do RS: questões históricas, culturais e desafios para projetar novas atitudes
Authors: Rosa Genesio Mario da , Silva Fabiana Regina da , Costa Júnior Jefferson Alves da
Published: August 2021

O objetivo deste texto é refletir sobre aspectos históricos, culturais e as ações antrópicas no meio rural na exploração dos recursos ambientais, na região norte do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Dimensiona sinteticamente, aspectos do perfil de ocupação do território e abandono do extrativismo, pós-colonização e inserção de migrantes europeus no século XX, o estabelecimento das relações de produção e uso dos recursos naturais e impactos gerados pela produção agrícola. Para tanto, se utiliza de fontes bibliográficas, reflexões teóricas e estudo diagnóstico realizado em doze municípios da referida região. Aponta à necessidade da construção de novas perspectivas culturais, políticas públicas, programas de capacitação e de educação ambiental, de modo a desenvolver uma consciência social coletiva capaz de ampliar o uso sustentável dos recursos ambientais, viabilizando o desenvolvimento das propriedades rurais e o fortalecimento das cadeias produtivas.
Using corpus methods to identify subject specific uses of polysemous words in English secondary school science materials
Authors: Deignan Alice , Love Robbie
Published: August 2021

Many education professionals in Britain believe that school pupils have difficulty accessing academic texts because of inadequate knowledge of vocabulary. Previous research has suggested that some high frequency words used in non-specialised contexts have academic meanings that can cause problems for school pupils. We take corpus techniques used in the study of higher education texts and apply them to a corpus of texts designed for school pupils aged 11 to 14, attempting to identify such words automatically. We use the Spoken BNC2014 as a reference corpus. We identify a list of semi-technical words ( Baker, 1988 ), many of which are polysemous, having everyday meanings and related school subject meanings that may not be familiar to pupils. We investigate how semi-technical vocabulary can be identified and distinguished from both specialised and general vocabulary. Some supplementary qualitative analysis was needed, using collocation and concordance analysis. While time-consuming, the potential benefits for pupils struggling with school language make this a worthwhile exercise.
Expanding lindsei to spoken learner English from several L1s across cefr levels
Authors: Huang Lan-fen , Gráf Tomáš
Published: August 2021

Learner corpus studies typically investigate the language of second-language learners with a different first language (L1) or with proficiency levels inferred from external criteria (e.g., the Louvain International Database of Spoken English Interlanguage, lindsei; Gilquin et al., 2010 ). This paper reports the process of expanding the original Czech ( Gráf, 2017 ) and Taiwanese ( Huang, 2014 ) sub-corpora (predominantly at B2 and C1; Huang et al., 2018 ) with samples from learners of other L1s across cefr levels. In addition to sixty interviews by the German, Finnish and Norwegian lindsei teams, another eighty-three interviews with university students in Taiwan and Finland were held. The data collection and transcription procedures were adapted from lindsei guidelines to ensure comparability. Each fourteen-minute interview was anonymised using Audacity, and orthographically transcribed and aligned by means of exmaralda. The levels of speaking proficiency in the supplemented data were assessed by two expert raters. The expanded learner corpus, containing 243 interviews, will be of considerable value for studying the development of learner English.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to Integration of Social and Ethical Awareness in Precision Livestock Farming Research
Authors: Guzhva Oleksiy , Siegford Janice M. , Lunner Kolstrup Christina
Published: August 2021

While fully automated livestock production may be considered the ultimate goal for optimising productivity at the farm level, the benefits and costs of such a development at the scale at which it needs to be implemented must also be considered from social and ethical perspectives. Automation resulting from Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) could alter fundamental views of human-animal interactions on farm and, even further, potentially compromise human and animal welfare and health if PLF development does not include a flexible, holistic strategy for integration. To investigate topic segregation, inclusion of socio-ethical aspects, and consideration of human-animal interactions within the PLF research field, the abstracts from 644 peer-reviewed publications were analysed using the recent advances in the Natural Language Processing (NLP). Two Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) probabilistic models with varying number of topics (13 and 3 for Model 1 and Model 2, respectively) were implemented to create a generalised research topic overview. The visual representation of topics produced by LDA Model 1 and Model 2 revealed prominent similarities in the terms contributing to each topic, with only weight for each term being different. The majority of terms for both models were process-oriented, obscuring the inclusion of social and ethical angles in PLF publications. A subset of articles (5%,n= 32) was randomly selected for manual examination of the full text to evaluate whether abstract text and focus reflected that of the article as a whole. Few of these articles (12.5%,n= 4) focused specifically on broader ethical or societal considerations of PLF or (9.4%,n= 3) discussed PLF with respect to human-animal interactions. While there was consideration of the impact of PLF on animal welfare and farmers in nearly half of the full texts examined (46.9%,n= 15), this was often limited to a few statements in passing. Further, these statements were typically general rather than specific and presented PLF as beneficial to human users and animal recipients. To develop PLF that is in keeping with the ethical values and societal concerns of the public and consumers, projects, and publications that deliberately combine social context with technological processes and results are needed.
Mitochondria-Targeted Nanomedicine for Enhanced Efficacy of Cancer Therapy
Authors: Gao Yan , Tong Haibei , Li Jialiang , Li Jiachen , Huang Di , Shi Jisen , Xia Bing
Published: August 2021

Nanomedicines have been designed and developed to deliver anticancer drugs or exert anticancer therapy more selectively to tumor sites. Recent investigations have gone beyond delivering drugs to tumor tissues or cells, but to intracellular compartments for amplifying therapy efficacy. Mitochondria are attractive targets for cancer treatment due to their important functions for cells and close relationships to tumor occurrence and metastasis. Accordingly, multifunctional nanoplatforms have been constructed for cancer therapy with the modification of a variety of mitochondriotropic ligands, to trigger the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of tumor cells. On this basis, various cancer therapeutic modalities based on mitochondria-targeted nanomedicines are developed by strategies of damaging mitochondria DNA (mtDNA), increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), disturbing respiratory chain and redox balance. Herein, in this review, we highlight mitochondria-targeted cancer therapies enabled by nanoplatforms including chemotherapy, photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), radiodynamic therapy (RDT) and combined immunotherapy, and discussed the ongoing challenges.
Dynamin 3 Inhibits the Proliferation of Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Suppressing c-MET–GBR2–STAT3 Complex Formation
Authors: Lu Qiang , Ni Yunfeng , Wang Wuping , Wang Lei , Jiang Tao , Shang Lei
Published: August 2021

Dynamin 3 (DNM3) has gained increased attention ever since its potential as a tumor suppressor was reported. However, its action in lung cancer (LC) is undefined. In this study, the role of DNM3 in LC development was investigated. DNM3 expression was found to be downregulated in tumors of patients with LC, especially those with metastasis. The DNM3 downregulation enhanced the proliferative and metastatic ability of LC cells, whereas its upregulation had the opposite effects. In vivo xenograft experiments confirmed that lung tumors with lower DNM3 expression had higher growth and metastatic abilities. Mechanistic studies revealed that DNM3 interacts with growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GBR2), thereby interrupting tyrosine-protein kinase Met (c-MET)–GBR2–signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) complex formation, which suppressed STAT3 activation. Therefore, the absence of DNM3 frees GBR2 to activate STAT3, which regulates the expression of genes related to LC proliferation and metastasis (e.g., cyclin D1 and Snail family transcriptional repressor 1). Additionally, the c-MET inhibitor crizotinib effectively suppressed LC cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo, even with DNM3 depleted. Therefore, our study has demonstrated the antitumor effect of DNM3 in LC and suggests that the inhibition of c-MET might be a promising strategy for treating those LC patients with low DNM3 expression.
KIAA1429 and ALKBH5 Oppositely Influence Aortic Dissection Progression via Regulating the Maturation of Pri-miR-143-3p in an m6A-Dependent Manner
Authors: Wang Peng , Wang Zhiwei , Zhang Min , Wu Qi , Shi Feng , Yuan Shun
Published: August 2021

Despite decades of study into aortic dissection (AD), a lethal cardiovascular emergency due to a tear in the aorta intima or bleeding within the aortic wall, leading to the separation of the different layers of it, the factors that influence its progression and the deeper regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Nowadays, with the maturity of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) sequence technology, m6A modification, one type of RNA epigenesis, has gradually become a new research hotspot for epigenetic molecular regulation. Especially recently, increasing evidence has revealed that m6A modification functions as a pivotal post-transcriptional modification to influence the progression of multiple diseases. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to speculate that m6A modification may affect the onset and progression of AD. To explore the validity of our conjecture and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism of action, we conducted the present study. In this study, we found that KIAA1429 is downregulated while ALKBH5 is upregulated in aortic tissues from AD patients. Furthermore, gain- and loss-of-function studies showed that KIAA1429 and ALKBH5 can oppositely regulate HASMC proliferation, HAEC apoptosis, and AD progression in AngII-infused mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that KIAA1429/ALKBH5-mediated m6A modifications can regulate the processing of pri-miR-143-3p through interacting with the microprocessor protein DGCR8, thus indirectly regulating the downstream target gene of mature miR-143-3p, DDX6, to perform their biological functions in vitro and in vivo. Our findings have revealed a novel connection between m6A modification and AD progression and may provide a novel molecular basis for subsequent researchers to search for novel therapeutic approaches to improve the health of patients struggling with AD.
Strategy for Leukemia Treatment Targeting SHP-1,2 and SHIP
Authors: Hao Fang , Wang Chen , Sholy Christine , Cao Min , Kang Xunlei
Published: August 2021

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are modulators of cellular functions such as differentiation, metabolism, migration, and survival. PTPs antagonize tyrosine kinases by removing phosphate moieties from molecular signaling residues, thus inhibiting signal transduction. Two PTPs, SHP-1 and SHP-2 (SH2 domain-containing phosphatases 1 and 2, respectively) and another inhibitory phosphatase, SH2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP), are essential for cell function, which is reflected in the defective phenotype of mutant mice. Interestingly, SHP-1, SHP-2, and SHIP mutations are identified in many cases of human leukemia. However, the impact of these phosphatases and their mutations regarding the onset and progression of leukemia is controversial. The ambiguity of the role of these phosphatases imposes challenges on the development of targeting therapies for leukemia. This fundamental problem, confronted by the expanding investigational field of leukemia, will be addressed in this review, which will include a discussion of the molecular mechanisms of SHP-1, SHP-2, and SHIP in normal hematopoiesis and their role in leukemia. Clinical development of leukemic therapies achieved by targeting these phosphatases will be addressed as well.
Hydrogen-Bonded Colorimetric and Fluorescence Chemosensor for Fluoride Anion With High Selectivity and Sensitivity: A Review
Authors: Deng Zhifeng , Wang Cheng , Zhang Haichang , Ai Taotao , Kou Kaichang
Published: August 2021

In recent years, the wide application of fluoride materials has grown rapidly, therefore excessive discharge in the surrounding environment, especially in drinking water and organic effluent, has become a potential hazard to humans, and has even resulted in fluorosis disease. The development of a highly effective and convenient method to recognize fluoride anions in surrounding environments seems necessary and urgent. Among which, the development of a colorimetric and fluorescence fluoride chemosensor with obvious color changing allowing for naked-eye detection with high sensitivity and selectivity is more interesting and challenging. In this minireview, current novel colorimetric and fluorescence chemosensors for fluoride anions by hydrogen-bond interaction are introduced, including obvious color changing by naked-eye detection, high sensitivity and selectivity, non-pollution and fluoride extraction ability, aqueous detection, and other additional functions. Finally, the perspective of the fluoride chemosensor design concept and potential evolution trends are pointed out.
Achieving Selective and Efficient Electrocatalytic Activity for CO2 Reduction on N-Doped Graphene
Authors: Sun Xiaoxu
Published: August 2021

The CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been a promising conversion method for CO2 utilization. Currently, the lack of electrocatalysts with favorable stability and high efficiency hindered the development of CO2RR. Nitrogen-doped graphene nanocarbons have great promise in replacing metal catalysts for catalyzing CO2RR. By using the density functional theory (DFT) method, the catalytic mechanism and activity of CO2RR on 11 types of nitrogen-doped graphene have been explored. The free energy analysis reveals that the zigzag pyridinic N- and zigzag graphitic N-doped graphene possess outstanding catalytic activity and selectivity for HCOOH production with an energy barrier of 0.38 and 0.39 eV, respectively. CO is a competitive product since its free energy lies only about 0.20 eV above HCOOH. The minor product is CH3OH and CH4 for the zigzag pyridinic N-doped graphene and HCHO for zigzag graphitic N-doped graphene, respectively. However, for Z-pyN, CO2RR is passivated by too strong HER. Meanwhile, by modifying the pH value of the electrolyte, Z-GN could be selected as a promising nonmetal electrocatalyst for CO2RR in generating HCOOH.
Characterization of Vaginal Microbiota in Women With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion That Can Be Modified by Drug Treatment
Authors: Zhao Fuju , Chen Yisheng , Gao Jing , Wu Mengyin , Li Cui , Wang Zhiheng , Huang Nali , Cui Lefang , Du Meirong , Ying Chunmei
Published: August 2021

Objective

The role of vaginal microbiota in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of vaginal microbiota and the effects of drug treatment on vaginal microbiota of patients with RSA.

Methods

A case-control study was performed, in which non-pregnant patients who experienced RSA were selected and divided into untreated and drug-treated groups. Drug-treated patients were subdivided into the metformin group, metformin plus aspirin group, and other drugs group. Healthy women who had live births and never experienced spontaneous abortion were enrolled in the control group. Characteristics of vaginal microbiomes of patients with RSA and healthy women and the impact of drug treatment on the microbiome was evaluated via 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3-V4 region using the Illumina MiSeq platform.

Results

Women who underwent RSA had lower microbial richness than healthy women. Compared to controls, the relative abundance of seven taxa (Megasphaera, Sneathia sanguinegens, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Rhodococcus, Burkholderia- Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Corynebacterium_1) in the patient’s vaginal microbiota changed significantly, which may be closely related to RSA. The composition of the vaginal microbial community in RSA patients was altered by drug treatment. Metformin combined with aspirin treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. in patients.

Conclusion

An altered vaginal microbiome composition might be associated with RSA, which could be modified by drug treatment. The effect of metformin combined with aspirin on vaginal Lactobacillus is worthy of attention.
Transcriptional Profiling of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Stimulated by Mycobacterium tuberculosis PPE57 Identifies Characteristic Genes Associated With Type I Interferon Signaling
Authors: Yi Fanli , Hu Jing , Zhu Xiaoyan , Wang Yue , Yu Qiuju , Deng Jing , Huang Xuedong , Ma Ying , Xie Yi
Published: August 2021

Proline-glutamic acid (PE)- and proline-proline-glutamic acid (PPE)-containing proteins are exclusive to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the leading cause of tuberculosis (TB). In this study, we performed global transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) on PPE57-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and control samples to quantitatively measure the expression level of key transcripts of interest. A total of 1367 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed in response to a 6 h exposure to PPE57, with 685 being up-regulated and 682 down-regulated. Immune-related gene functions and pathways associated with these genes were evaluated, revealing that the type I IFN signaling pathway was the most significantly enriched pathway in our RNA-seq dataset, with 14 DEGs identified therein including ISG15, MX2, IRF9, IFIT3, IFIT2, OAS3, IFIT1, IFI6, OAS2, OASL, RSAD2, OAS1, IRF7, and MX1. These PPE57-related transcriptomic profiles have implications for a better understanding of host global immune mechanisms underlying MTB infection outcomes. However, more studies regarding these DEGs and type I IFN signaling in this infectious context are necessary to more fully clarify the underlying mechanisms that arise in response to PPE57 during MTB infection.
Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae Harboring ST233, ST1263, and ST1845 in Children
Authors: Zhou Mingming , Shi Qiucheng , Zhang Xiucai , Mei Lingling , Ye Yihua , Fang Chao , Shang Shiqiang
Published: August 2021

Objective

This study aims to analyze the molecular epidemiology, resistance, and pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae isolated from children.

Methods

Whole genome sequencing was carried out, and molecular serotypes, sequence types, resistance genes, and virulence genes of S. enterica subsp. diarizonae isolates were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was determined by commercialized microdilution method.

Results

A total of three isolates of S. enterica subsp. diarizonae were isolated during 2015 to 2020. The molecular serotypes of the three strains were 61:c:z35, 61:l,v:1,5,7:[z57], and 65:k:z, respectively, and the sequence types were ST1845, ST233, and ST1263. All the three isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefepime, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, piperacillin/tazobactam, ertapenem, imipenem, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. No other resistant gene was detected except aac(6’)-Iaa. There were no resistant plasmids detected in all the three isolates. A total of 76 genes were present in all isolates, containing 49 genes of Type III Secretion System (T3SS) mediated by SPI-1and SPI-2, 13 genes of adherence (type 1 fimbriae, Agf, and MisL-related genes), 11 genes of iron uptake (Yersiniabactin), two genes of magnesium uptake, and one gene of typhoid toxin(cdtB).

Conclusion

The serotypes and sequence types of S. enterica subsp. diarizonae isolates were rarely reported in children; all the S. enterica subsp. diarizonae isolates were susceptible to detected antibiotics; T3SS, adherence, iron uptake, magnesium uptake, and typhoid toxin were responsible for pathogenicity of the S. enterica subsp. diarizonae isolates in children.
Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Characteristics of Vibrio Isolates From Rustic Environmental Freshwaters
Authors: Gxalo Oyama , Digban Tennison O. , Igere Bright E. , Olapade Ola A. , Okoh Anthony I. , Nwodo Uchechukwu U.
Published: August 2021

The study investigated the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence determinants in Vibrio species recovered from different freshwater sheds in rustic milieu. A total of 118 Vibrio isolates comprising Vibrio fluvialis (n=41), Vibrio mimicus (n=40) and V. vulnificus (n=37) was identified by amplification of ToxR, vmh and hsp60 genes. The amplification of virulence genes indicated that V. mimicus (toxR, zot, ctx, VPI, and ompU) genes were detected in 12.5%, 32.5%, 45%, 37.5% and 10% respectively. V. fluvialis genes (stn, hupO and vfh) were harboured in 48.8%, 14.6% and 19.5% isolates congruently. The other virulence genes that include vcgC and vcgE were observed in 63.1% and 29% of isolates belonging to V. vulnificus. With the exceptions of imipenem, meropenem and ciprofloxacin, most isolates exhibited more than 50% resistance to antibiotics. The antimicrobial resistance was more prevalent for polymyxin B (100%), azithromycin (100%) and least in ciprofloxacin (16.1%). Multiple antibiotic resistance index range was 0.3 and 0.8 with most isolates showing MARI of 0.8. The blaTEM, AmpC, blaGES, blaIMP, blaOXA-48 and blaKPC genes were detected in 53.3%, 42%, 29.6%, 16.6%, 15%, 11.3% and 5.6% of the isolates. Non-beta lactamases such as streptomycin resistance (aadA and strA), gentamicin resistance (aphA1) and quinolone resistance gene (qnrVC) were found in 5.2%, 44.3%, 26% and 2.8%. Chloramphenicol resistance genes (cmlA1 and catII) were found in 5.2% and 44.3% among the isolates. Our findings reveal the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulent Vibrio species in aquatic environment which can have potential risk to human and animal’s health.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Lung Ultrasound B-Lines in Acute Heart Failure With Concomitant Pneumonia
Authors: Mazzola Matteo , Pugliese Nicola Riccardo , Zavagli Martina , De Biase Nicolò , Bandini Giulia , Barbarisi Giorgia , D'Angelo Gennaro , Sollazzo Michela , Piazzai Chiara , David Simon , Masi Stefano , Moggi-Pignone Alberto , Gargani Luna
Published: August 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the potential confounding effect of concomitant pneumonia (PNM) on lung ultrasound (LUS) B-lines in acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods: We enrolled 86 AHF patients with (31 pts, AHF/PNM) and without (55 pts, AHF) concomitant PNM. LUS B-lines were evaluated using a combined antero-lateral (AL) and posterior (POST) approach at admission (T0), after 24 h from T0 (T1), after 48 h from T0 (T2) and before discharge (T3). B-lines score was calculated at each time point on AL and POST chest, dividing the number of B-lines by the number of explorable scanning sites. The decongestion rate (DR) was calculated as the difference between the absolute B-lines number at discharge and admission, divided by the number of days of hospitalization. Patients were followed-up and hospital readmission for AHF was considered as adverse outcome.

Results: At admission, AHF/PNM patients showed no difference in AL B-lines score compared with AHF patients [AHF/PNM: 2.00 (IQR: 1.44–2.94) vs. AHF: 1.65 (IQR: 0.50–2.66), p = 0.072], whereas POST B-lines score was higher [AHF/PNM: 3.76 (IQR: 2.70–4.77) vs. AHF = 2.44 (IQR: 1.20–3.60), p < 0.0001]. At discharge, AL B-lines score [HR: 1.907 (1.097–3.313), p = 0.022] and not POST B-lines score was found to predict adverse events (AHF rehospitalization) after a median follow-up of 96 days (IQR: 30–265) in the overall population.

Conclusions: Assessing AL B-lines alone is adequate for diagnosis, pulmonary congestion (PC) monitoring and prognostic stratification in AHF patients, despite concomitant PNM.
Association of Circulating, Inflammatory-Response Exosomal mRNAs With Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: He Guo-dong , Huang Yu-qing , Liu Lin , Huang Jia-yi , Lo Kenneth , Yu Yu-ling , Chen Chao-lei , Zhang Bin , Feng Ying-qing
Published: August 2021

Background: Although many cardiovascular disease studies have focused on the microRNAs of circulating exosomes, the profile and the potential clinical diagnostic value of plasma exosomal long RNAs (exoLRs) are unknown for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: In this study, the exoLR profile of 10 AMI patients, eight stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, and 10 healthy individuals was assessed by RNA sequencing. Bioinformatic approaches were used to investigate the characteristics and potential clinical value of exoLRs.

Results: Exosomal mRNAs comprised the majority of total exoLRs. Immune cell types analyzed by CIBERSORT showed that neutrophils and monocytes were significantly enriched in AMI patients, consistent with clinical baseline values. Biological process enrichment analysis and co-expression network analysis demonstrated neutrophil activation processes to be enriched in AMI patients. Furthermore, two exosomal mRNAs, ALPL and CXCR2, were identified as AMI biomarkers that may be useful for evaluation of the acute inflammatory response mediated by neutrophils.

Conclusions: ExoLRs were assessed in AMI patients and found to be associated with the acute inflammatory response mediated by neutrophils. Exosomal mRNAs, ALPL and CXCR2, were identified as potentially useful biomarkers for the study of AMI.
Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Exosomes Delivered Using Silk Fibroin and Sericin Composite Hydrogel Promote Wound Healing
Authors: Han Chaoshan , Liu Feng , Zhang Yu , Chen Wenjie , Luo Wei , Ding Fengzhi , Lu Lin , Wu Chengjie , Li Yangxin
Published: August 2021

Recent studies have shown that the hydrogels formed by composite biomaterials are better choice than hydrogels formed by single biomaterial for tissue repair. We explored the feasibility of the composite hydrogel formed by silk fibroin (SF) and silk sericin (SS) in tissue repair for the excellent mechanical properties of SF, and cell adhesion and biocompatible properties of SS. In our study, the SF SS hydrogel was formed by SF and SS protein with separate extraction method (LiBr dissolution for SF and hot alkaline water dissolution for SS), while SF-SS hydrogel was formed by SF and SS protein using simultaneous extraction method (LiBr dissolution for SF and SS protein). The effects of the two composite hydrogels on the release of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages and the wound were analyzed. Moreover, two hydrogels were used to encapsulate and deliver human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes (UMSC-Exo). Both SF SS and SF-SS hydrogels promoted wound healing, angiogenesis, and reduced inflammation and TNF-α secretion by macrophages. These beneficial effects were more significant in the experimental group treated by UMSC-Exo encapsulated in SF-SS hydrogel. Our study found that SF-SS hydrogel could be used as an excellent alternative to deliver exosomes for tissue repair.
Non-Canonical Effects of ACTH: Insights Into Adrenal Insufficiency
Authors: Hasenmajer Valeria , Bonaventura Ilaria , Minnetti Marianna , Sada Valentina , Sbardella Emilia , Isidori Andrea M.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is produced from proopiomelanocortin, which is predominantly synthetized in the corticotroph and melanotroph cells of the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Although ACTH clearly has an effect on adrenal homeostasis and maintenance of steroid hormone production, it also has extra-adrenal effects that require further elucidation.

Methods

We comprehensively reviewed English language articles, regardless of whether they reported the presence or absence of adrenal and extra-adrenal ACTH effects.

Results

In the present review, we provide an overview on the current knowledge on adrenal and extra-adrenal effects of ACTH. In the section on adrenal ACTH effects, we focused on corticosteroid rhythmicity and effects on steroidogenesis, mineralocorticoids and adrenal growth. In the section on extra-adrenal effects, we have analyzed the effects of ACTH on the osteoarticular and reproductive systems, adipocytes, immune system, brain and skin. Finally, we focused on adrenal insufficiency.

Conclusions

The role of ACTH in maintaining the function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is well known. Conversely, if we broaden our vision and analyze its role as a potential treatment strategy in other conditions, it will be evident in the literature that researchers seem to have abandoned this aspect in studies conducted several years ago. We believe it is worth re-evaluating the role of ACTH considering its noncanonical effects on the adrenal gland itself and on extra-adrenal organs and tissues; however, this would not have been possible without the recent advances in the pertinent technologies.
Setting Statistical Thresholds Is Useful to Define Truly Effective Conservation Interventions
Authors: Khorozyan Igor
Published: August 2021

Effective interventions are needed to solve conflicts between humans and predators over livestock killing, nuisance behavior, and attacks on pets and humans. Progress in quantification of evidence-based effectiveness and selection of the best interventions raises new questions, such as the existence of thresholds to identify truly effective interventions. Current classification of more and less effective interventions is subjective and statistically unjustified. This study describes a novel method to differentiate true and untrue effectiveness on a basis of false positive risk (FPR). I have collected 152 cases of applications of damage-reducing interventions from 102 scientific publications, 26 countries, 22 predator species, and 6 categories of interventions. The analysis has shown that the 95% confidence interval of the relative risk of predator-caused damage was 0.10–0.25 for true effectiveness (FPR < 0.05) and 0.35–0.56 for untrue effectiveness (FPR ≥ 0.05). This means that damage was reduced by 75–90% for truly effective interventions and by 44–65% for interventions of untrue effectiveness. Based on this, it was specified that truly effective interventions have the relative risk ≤ 0.25 (damage reduction ≥ 75%) and the effectiveness of interventions with the relative risk > 0.25 (damage reduction < 75%) is untrue. This threshold is statistically well-justified, stable, easy to remember, and practical to use in anti-predator interventions. More research is essential to know how this threshold holds true for other conservation interventions aiming to reduce negative outcomes (e.g., poaching rates) or increase positive outcomes (e.g., species richness).
Unraveling the World’s Longest Non-stop Migration: The Indian Ocean Crossing of the Globe Skimmer Dragonfly
Authors: Hedlund Johanna S. U. , Lv Hua , Lehmann Philipp , Hu Gao , Anderson R. Charles , Chapman Jason W.
Published: August 2021

Insect migration redistributes enormous quantities of biomass, nutrients and species globally. A subset of insect migrants perform extreme long-distance journeys, requiring specialized morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations. The migratory globe skimmer dragonfly (Pantala flavescens) is hypothesized to migrate from India across the Indian Ocean to East Africa in the autumn, with a subsequent generation thought to return to India from East Africa the following spring. Using an energetic flight model and wind trajectory analysis, we evaluate the dynamics of this proposed transoceanic migration, which is considered to be the longest regular non-stop migratory flight when accounting for body size. The energetic flight model suggests that a mixed strategy of gliding and active flapping would allow a globe skimmer to stay airborne for up to 230–286 h, assuming that the metabolic rate of gliding flight is close to that of resting. If engaged in continuous active flapping flight only, the flight time is severely reduced to ∼4 h. Relying only on self-powered flight (combining active flapping and gliding), a globe skimmer could cross the Indian Ocean, but the migration would have to occur where the ocean crossing is shortest, at an exceptionally fast gliding speed and with little headwind. Consequently, we deem this scenario unlikely and suggest that wind assistance is essential for the crossing. The wind trajectory analysis reveals intra- and inter-seasonal differences in availability of favorable tailwinds, with only 15.2% of simulated migration trajectories successfully reaching land in autumn but 40.9% in spring, taking on average 127 and 55 h respectively. Thus, there is a pronounced requirement on dragonflies to be able to select favorable winds, especially in autumn. In conclusion, a multi-generational, migratory circuit of the Indian Ocean by the globe skimmer is shown to be achievable, provided that advanced adaptations in physiological endurance, behavior and wind selection ability are present. Given that migration over the Indian Ocean would be heavily dependent on the assistance of favorable winds, occurring during a relatively narrow time window, the proposed flyway is potentially susceptible to disruption, if wind system patterns were to be affected by climatic change.
Identification of a Novel Glycolysis-Related LncRNA Signature for Predicting Overall Survival in Patients With Bladder Cancer
Authors: Zheng Zhenming , Lai Cong , Li Wenshuang , Zhang Caixia , Ma Kaiqun , Yao Yousheng
Published: August 2021

Background

Both lncRNAs and glycolysis are considered to be key influencing factors in the progression of bladder cancer (BCa). Studies have shown that glycolysis-related lncRNAs are an important factor affecting the overall survival and prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. In this study, a prognostic model of BCa patients was constructed based on glycolysis-related lncRNAs to provide a point of reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Methods

The transcriptome, clinical data, and glycolysis-related pathway gene sets of BCa patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) official website. Next, differentially expressed glycolysis-related lncRNAs were screened out, glycolysis-related lncRNAs with prognostic significance were identified through LASSO regression analysis, and a risk scoring model was constructed through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Then, based on the median of the risk scores, all BCa patients were divided into either a high-risk or low-risk group. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the predictive power of the model. A nomogram prognostic model was then constructed based on clinical indicators and risk scores. A calibration chart, clinical decision curve, and ROC curve analysis were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the model, and the risk score of the prognostic model was verified using the TCGA data set. Finally, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed on glycolysis-related lncRNAs.

Results

A total of 59 differentially expressed glycolysis-related lncRNAs were obtained from 411 bladder tumor tissues and 19 pericarcinomatous tissues, and 9 of those glycolysis-related lncRNAs (AC099850.3, AL589843.1, MAFG-DT, AC011503.2, NR2F1-AS1, AC078778.1, ZNF667-AS1, MNX1-AS1, and AC105942.1) were found to have prognostic significance. A signature was then constructed for predicting survival in BCa based on those 9 glycolysis-related lncRNAs. ROC curve analysis and a nomogram verified the accuracy of the signature.

Conclusion

Through this study, a novel prognostic prediction model for BCa was established based on 9 glycolysis-related lncRNAs that could effectively distinguish high-risk and low-risk BCa patients, and also provide a new point of reference for clinicians to make individualized treatment and review plans for patients with different levels of risk.
Therapeutic Vaccination of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients Improves Protective CD8 T-Cell Immunotherapy of Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Gergely Kerstin M. , Podlech Jürgen , Becker Sara , Freitag Kirsten , Krauter Steffi , Büscher Nicole , Holtappels Rafaela , Plachter Bodo , Reddehase Matthias J. , Lemmermann Niels A. W.
Published: August 2021

Reactivation of latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) endangers the therapeutic success of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in tumor patients due to cytopathogenic virus spread that leads to organ manifestations of CMV disease, to interstitial pneumonia in particular. In cases of virus variants that are refractory to standard antiviral pharmacotherapy, immunotherapy by adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of virus-specific CD8+ T cells is the last resort to bridge the “protection gap” between hematoablative conditioning for HCT and endogenous reconstitution of antiviral immunity. We have used the well-established mouse model of CD8+ T-cell immunotherapy by ACT in a setting of experimental HCT and murine CMV (mCMV) infection to pursue the concept of improving the efficacy of ACT by therapeutic vaccination (TherVac) post-HCT. TherVac aims at restimulation and expansion of limited numbers of transferred antiviral CD8+ T cells within the recipient. Syngeneic HCT was performed with C57BL/6 mice as donors and recipients. Recipients were infected with recombinant mCMV (mCMV-SIINFEKL) that expresses antigenic peptide SIINFEKL presented to CD8+ T cells by the MHC class-I molecule Kb. ACT was performed with transgenic OT-I CD8+ T cells expressing a T-cell receptor specific for SIINFEKL-Kb. Recombinant human CMV dense bodies (DB-SIINFEKL), engineered to contain SIINFEKL within tegument protein pUL83/pp65, served for vaccination. DBs were chosen as they represent non-infectious, enveloped, and thus fusion-competent subviral particles capable of activating dendritic cells and delivering antigens directly into the cytosol for processing and presentation in the MHC class-I pathway. One set of our experiments documents the power of vaccination with DBs in protecting the immunocompetent host against a challenge infection. A further set of experiments revealed a significant improvement of antiviral control in HCT recipients by combining ACT with TherVac. In both settings, the benefit from vaccination with DBs proved to be strictly epitope-specific. The capacity to protect was lost when DBs included the peptide sequence SIINFEKA lacking immunogenicity and antigenicity due to C-terminal residue point mutation L8A, which prevents efficient proteasomal peptide processing and binding to Kb. Our preclinical research data thus provide an argument for using pre-emptive TherVac to enhance antiviral protection by ACT in HCT recipients with diagnosed CMV reactivation.
The Role of Non-Immune Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Allergy
Authors: Hovhannisyan Lilit , Czechowska Ewa , Gutowska-Owsiak Danuta
Published: August 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), and especially exosomes, have been shown to mediate information exchange between distant cells; this process directly affects the biological characteristics and functionality of the recipient cell. As such, EVs significantly contribute to the shaping of immune responses in both physiology and disease states. While vesicles secreted by immune cells are often implicated in the allergic process, growing evidence indicates that EVs from non-immune cells, produced in the stroma or epithelia of the organs directly affected by inflammation may also play a significant role. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms of allergy to which those EVs contribute, with a particular focus on small EVs (sEVs). Finally, we also give a clinical perspective regarding the utilization of the EV-mediated communication route for the benefit of allergic patients.