bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life and Risk Factors among Chinese Women in Japan Following the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Luo Yunjie , Sato Yoko
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected individuals’ physical and mental health, including that of immigrant women. This study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), identify the demographic factors and awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to physical and mental health, and examine the risk factors associated with poor physical and mental health of Chinese women in Japan following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Using an electronic questionnaire survey, we collected data including items on HRQoL, awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, and demographic factors. One hundred and ninety-three participants were analyzed. Approximately 98.9% of them thought that COVID-19 affected their daily lives, and 97.4% had COVID-19 concerns. Married status (OR = 2.88, 95%CI [1.07, 7.72], p = 0.036), high concerns (OR = 3.99, 95%CI [1.46, 10.94], p = 0.007), and no concerns (OR = 8.75, 95%CI [1.17, 65.52], p = 0.035) about the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with poor physical health. Unmarried status (OR = 2.83, 95%CI [1.20, 6.70], p = 0.018) and high COVID-19 concerns (OR = 2.17, 95%CI [1.04, 4.56], p = 0.040) were significantly associated with poor mental health. It is necessary to provide effective social support for Chinese women in Japan to improve their well-being, especially in terms of mental health.
Nasopharyngeal Testing among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) of a Large University Hospital in Milan, Italy during Two Epidemic Waves of COVID-19
Authors: Comelli Agnese , Consonni Dario , Lombardi Andrea , Viero Giulia , Oggioni Massimo , Bono Patrizia , Uceda Renteria Sara Colonia , Ceriotti Ferruccio , Mangioni Davide , Muscatello Antonio , Piatti Alessandra , Pesatori Angela Cecilia , Castaldi Silvana , Riboldi Luciano , Bandera Alessandra , Gori Andrea
Published: August 2021

Background: since October 2020, a second SARS-CoV-2 epidemic wave has hit Italy. We investigate the frequency of positive nasopharyngeal swabs among HCWs during the two waves and the association with occupation and demographic characteristics. Methods: this is a retrospective, observational study conducted in a large university hospital in Milan, Northern Italy. We defined two epidemic waves: 1st (February 2020–July 2020) and 2nd (August 2020–January 2021). Occupational and demographic characteristics of HCWs who underwent nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 were collected. Results: in the 1st wave, 242 positive subjects (7.2%) were found among 3378 HCWs, whereas in the 2nd wave, the positive subjects were 545 out of 4465 (12.2%). In both epidemic waves positive NPSs were more frequent among HCWs with health-related tasks and lower among students (p < 0.001). However, in the 2nd wave, workers engaged in non-health-related tasks had a peak of 20.7% positivity. Among 160 positive HCWs in the 1st wave who were tested again in the 2nd wave, the rate of reinfection based on SARS-CoV2 RNA cycle quantification value was 0.6%. Conclusions: during the 2nd epidemic wave, we confirmed a significant impact of COVID-19 among HCWs. The rise of infection rate among HCWs seems to reflect the increasing spread of SARS-CoV-2 among the overall population.
Comment on de la Monte et al. Betel Quid Health Risks of Insulin Resistance Diseases in Poor Young South Asian Native and Immigrant Populations. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6690
Authors: López-Valverde Nansi , López-Valverde Antonio
Published: August 2021

In September 2020, de la Monte and colleagues published the article “Betel Quid Health Risks of Insulin Resistance Diseases in Poor Young South Asian Native and Immigrant Populations” [...]
Different Influences of Endometriosis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease on the Occurrence of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Huang Jing-Yang , Yang Shun-Fa , Wu Pei-Ju , Wang Chun-Hao , Tang Chih-Hsin , Wang Po-Hui
Published: August 2021

To compare the rate and risk of ovarian cancer in patients with endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). A nationwide population cohort research compared the risk of ovarian cancer in 135,236 age-matched comparison females, 114,726 PID patients, and 20,510 endometriosis patients out of 982,495 females between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2014 and ended on the date of confirmation of ovarian cancer, death, or 31 December 2014. In order to reduce the unbalanced characteristics, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for 20,478 females in each subgroup. The incidence rate (per 100,000 person–years) of ovarian cancer was 8.74 (95% CI, 7.16–10.66) in comparison, 9.26 (7.54–11.39) in PID, and 28.73 (21.07–39.16) in endometriosis cohorts. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of ovarian cancer was 1.17 (p = 0.296) in PID and 3.12 (p < 0.001) in endometriosis cohorts, compared with the comparison cohort in full cohort, using the multiple Cox regression model. The aHR of ovarian cancer was 0.83 (p = 0.650) in PID and 3.03 (p = 0.001) in endometriosis cohorts, compared with the comparison cohort after performing PSM. In the full cohort and PSM population, the cumulative incidence rate of ovarian cancer was significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than in those with PID or in the comparison cohort (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). In conclusion, after considering the differences in the impacts of exposure to endometriosis or PID, patients with endometriosis were more likely to develop ovarian cancer.
Morale and Perceived Threats as Predictors of Psychological Coping with Distress in Pandemic and Armed Conflict Times
Authors: Eshel Yohanan , Kimhi Shaul , Marciano Hadas , Adini Bruria
Published: August 2021

The present study investigated predictors of psychological coping with adversity responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and an armed conflict. Two paired samples that represented the Israeli population that was exposed to both adversities were compared. Respondents rated five different psychological coping responses associated with the two adversities, such as anxiety or individual resilience. Perceived security, pandemic, economic, and political risks, as well as level of morale, were rated. Two major findings were disclosed by two path analyses. Morale improved the predictions of the varied coping responses in both the pandemic and conflict and was the best predictor of four out of five responses and the second-best predictor of the fifth response. Contrary to previous studies, our findings revealed that the concept of a single major predictor of coping responses under distress is an overgeneralization. In both cases, the coping responses were better explained by other perceived risks rather than by the risk of the investigated adversity. Rather than assume that a perceived security threat accounts for low levels of public moods, it is vital to study the antecedents of coping responses and to empirically examine additional potential predictors.
Using a Naturalistic Store Laboratory for Clinical Trials of Point-of-Sale Nutrition Policies and Interventions: A Feasibility and Validation Study
Authors: Hall Marissa G. , Higgins Isabella C. A. , Grummon Anna H. , Lazard Allison J. , Prestemon Carmen E. , Sheldon Jennifer Mendel , Taillie Lindsey Smith
Published: August 2021

Point-of-sale policies such as warnings and taxes are promising tools for improving the nutritional quality of food purchases. Research studies conducted in naturalistic store laboratories could improve the quality of evidence about point-of-sale interventions by allowing for realistic exposure in a controlled setting. This study aimed to assess whether purchasing behavior in a naturalistic store laboratory setting was similar to real-life purchasing behavior and to evaluate participants’ perceptions of store realism and the acceptability of research study protocols in this setting. In a longitudinal observational study in 2019, Latinx parents in North Carolina (n = 61) attended five weekly visits at the UNC Mini Mart, a naturalistic store laboratory that resembled a small convenience store. At each visit, participants purchased a week’s supply of beverages. Purchases of beverages in the Mini Mart were compared to participants’ purchases from receipts submitted the week prior to the study. Analyses compared the percentage of participants buying sugary drinks and non-sugary drinks in the Mini Mart vs. in real stores using Chi-Square tests with Fisher’s p. The percentage of parents who purchased sugary drinks in the Mini Mart (93%) was not significantly different from the percentage who purchased sugary drinks during the week before the study (74%, p = 0.28). The percentage purchasing non-sugary drinks was similar in the two settings (85% in the Mini Mart vs. 85% from receipts, p = 0.33). Nearly all participants reported that their Mini Mart purchases were similar to real-life purchases (96%); the Mini Mart felt like a real store (94%); they could find all the beverages they were looking for (92%); and they could imagine doing their real-life beverage shopping in the Mini Mart (92%). Moreover, retention was high, with 97% of participants attending the final study visit. These results indicate that naturalistic store laboratories are a promising method for increasing the ecological validity of trials to evaluate point-of-sale interventions.
A Mediation Model between Self-Esteem, Anxiety, and Depression in Sport: The Role of Gender Differences in Speleologists
Authors: de la Torre-Cruz Tamara , Luis-Rico Isabel , di Giusto-Valle Cristina , Escolar-Llamazares María-Camino , Hortigüela-Alcalá David , Palmero-Cámara Carmen , Jiménez Alfredo
Published: August 2021

The scientific literature on mental health has found an association between physical activity and emotional wellbeing and recommends active leisure activities as a way of keeping stress under control. The purpose of this research study is to analyze the level of anxiety, the symptoms of depression and the level of self-esteem of people practicing speleology, as well as possible gender differences. This paper also attempts to understand whether self-esteem is associated with the presence of symptoms of depression in speleologists and whether anxiety has a mediating effect. We conduct a cross-sectional and descriptive research study with a sampling of 105 adult speleologists. The results reveal that the total mediation model is applicable, as self-esteem has a significant indirect association with depression through trait anxiety, as well as a partial mediation model that is applicable through state anxiety. This means that speleologists with high levels of self-esteem, who appreciate and value themselves adequately, reveal lower levels of trait anxiety, and this negatively influences their levels of depression (that is, a lower level of depressive symptoms). At the same time, speleologists with high levels of self-esteem, who appreciate and value themselves adequately, also reveal lower levels of state anxiety, which again has a negative impact on their levels of depression (with fewer symptoms of depression). Emotions such as anxiety, self-esteem, depression and their collateral effects are international topics of interest, which are relevant for people from all sporting backgrounds; therefore, value should be placed on supporting and carrying out further research into this topic.
The Pandemic beyond the Pandemic: A Scoping Review on the Social Relationships between COVID-19 and Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Toro-Alzate Luisa , Hofstraat Karlijn , de Vries Daniel H.
Published: August 2021

The social sciences are essential to include in the fight against both public health challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and COVID-19. In this scoping review, we document what social science knowledge has been published about the social relationship between COVID-19 and AMR and which social science interventions are suggested to address this social relationship. We analysed 23 peer-reviewed articles published between 2019 and 2021. Results emphasize that changes in antibiotic prescription behaviour, misinformation, over-burdened health systems, financial hardship, environmental impact and gaps in governance might increase the improper access and use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing AMR. The identified social sciences transformation strategies include social engagement and sensitisation, misinformation control, health systems strengthening, improved infection prevention and control measures, environmental protection, and better antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases governance. The review emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing both AMR and COVID-19.
Distancing Adherence and Negative Emotions among the Israeli Elderly Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bord Shiran , Schor Ayelet , Satran Carmit , Ali Saleh Ola , Inchi Liron , Halperin Dafna
Published: August 2021

Social distancing was found to prevent COVID-19 contagion. Therefore, understanding the factors associated with the public’s adherence is important. Acknowledging the importance of emotional wellbeing regarding older people’s health, and understanding their emotional state during the pandemic, are crucial. This study assessed factors associated with older people’s adherence to social distancing and their emotional status. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1822 respondents above the age of 60. Distancing adherence, negative emotion, trust, social support, threat perception, attitudes, and subjective norms were assessed, and a path analysis was performed. Adherence was positively associated with attitudes (β = 0.10; p < 0.001), and with subjective norms (β = 0.19; p < 0.001). Negative emotions were positively associated with threat perception (β = 0.33; p < 0.001), and negatively associated with social support (β = −0.13; p < 0.001) and subjective norms (β = −0.10; p < 0.001). Attitudes mediated the relationship of threat perception (95% CI = 0.009, 0.034), trust (95% CI = 0.008, 0.029), and social support (95% CI = 0.006, 0.023) with distancing adherence. Subjective norms mediated the relationship between threat perception (95% CI = 0.014, 0.034), trust (95% CI = 0.026, 0.055), and social support (95% CI = 0.002, 0.048) with distancing adherence. Subjective norms mediated the relationship between threat perception (95% CI = −0.022, −0.006), trust (95% CI = −0.034, −0.010), and social support (95% CI = −0.029, −0.009) with negative emotions. When promoting social distancing adherence, subjective norms and attitudes must be considered, as they play a role in promoting adherence and negative-emotion regulation.
Could the Epigenetics of Eosinophils in Asthma and Allergy Solve Parts of the Puzzle?
Authors: Bélanger Émile , Laprise Catherine
Published: August 2021

Epigenetics is a field of study investigating changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence. These changes are often influenced by environmental or social factors and are reversible. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA. Understanding the role of these epigenetic mechanisms in human diseases provides useful information with regard to disease severity and development. Several studies have searched for the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate allergies and asthma; however, only few studies have used samples of eosinophil, a proinflammatory cell type known to be largely recruited during allergic or asthmatic inflammation. Such studies would enable us to better understand the factors that influence the massive recruitment of eosinophils during allergic and asthmatic symptoms. In this review, we sought to summarize different studies that aimed to discover differential patterns of histone modifications, DNA methylation, and noncoding RNAs in eosinophil samples of individuals with certain diseases, with a particular focus on those with asthma or allergic diseases.
A DNA Aptameric Ligand of Human Transferrin Receptor Generated by Cell-SELEX
Authors: Zhang Nan , Bing Tao , Shen Luyao , Feng Le , Liu Xiangjun , Shangguan Dihua
Published: August 2021

General cancer-targeted ligands that can deliver drugs to cells have been given considerable attention. In this paper, a high-affinity DNA aptamer (HG1) generally binding to human tumor cells was evolved by cell-SELEX, and was further optimized to have 35 deoxynucleotides (HG1-9). Aptamer HG1-9 could be taken up by live cells, and its target protein on a cell was identified to be human transferrin receptor (TfR). As a man-made ligand of TfR, aptamer HG1-9 was demonstrated to bind at the same site of human TfR as transferrin with comparable binding affinity, and was proved to cross the epithelium barrier through transferrin receptor-mediated transcytosis. These results suggest that aptamer HG1-9 holds potential as a promising ligand to develop general cancer-targeted diagnostics and therapeutics.
The Duality of Caspases in Cancer, as Told through the Fly
Authors: Hounsell Caitlin , Fan Yun
Published: August 2021

Caspases, a family of cysteine-aspartic proteases, have an established role as critical components in the activation and initiation of apoptosis. Alongside this a variety of non-apoptotic caspase functions in proliferation, differentiation, cellular plasticity and cell migration have been reported. The activity level and context are important factors in determining caspase function. As a consequence of their critical role in apoptosis and beyond, caspases are uniquely situated to have pathological roles, including in cancer. Altered caspase function is a common trait in a variety of cancers, with apoptotic evasion defined as a “hallmark of cancer”. However, the role that caspases play in cancer is much more complex, acting both to prevent and to promote tumourigenesis. This review focuses on the major findings in Drosophila on the dual role of caspases in tumourigenesis. This has major implications for cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with the activation of apoptosis being the end goal. However, such treatments may inadvertently have adverse effects on promoting tumour progression and acerbating the cancer. A comprehensive understanding of the dual role of caspases will aid in the development of successful cancer therapeutic approaches.
Application of Fluorescent Proteins for Functional Dissection of the Drosophila Visual System
Authors: Smylla Thomas , Wagner Krystina , Huber Armin
Published: August 2021

The Drosophila eye has been used extensively to study numerous aspects of biological systems, for example, spatio-temporal regulation of differentiation, visual signal transduction, protein trafficking and neurodegeneration. Right from the advent of fluorescent proteins (FPs) near the end of the millennium, heterologously expressed fusion proteins comprising FPs have been applied in Drosophila vision research not only for subcellular localization of proteins but also for genetic screens and analysis of photoreceptor function. Here, we summarize applications for FPs used in the Drosophila eye as part of genetic screens, to study rhodopsin expression patterns, subcellular protein localization, membrane protein transport or as genetically encoded biosensors for Ca2+ and phospholipids in vivo. We also discuss recently developed FPs that are suitable for super-resolution or correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approaches. Illustrating the possibilities provided by using FPs in Drosophila photoreceptors may aid research in other sensory or neuronal systems that have not yet been studied as well as the Drosophila eye.
Radiotherapy of High-Grade Gliomas: First Half of 2021 Update with Special Reference to Radiosensitization Studies
Authors: Frosina Guido
Published: August 2021

Albeit the effort to develop targeted therapies for patients with high-grade gliomas (WHO grades III and IV) is evidenced by hundreds of current clinical trials, radiation remains one of the few effective therapeutic options for them. This review article analyzes the updates on the topic “radiotherapy of high-grade gliomas” during the period 1 January 2021–30 June 2021. The high number of articles retrieved in PubMed using the search terms (“gliom* and radio*”) and manually selected for relevance indicates the feverish research currently ongoing on the subject. During the last semester, significant advances were provided in both the preclinical and clinical settings concerning the diagnosis and prognosis of high-grade gliomas, their radioresistance, and the inevitable side effects of their treatment with radiation. The novel information concerning tumor radiosensitization was of special interest in terms of therapeutic perspective and was discussed in detail.
Generalizable Compositional Features Influencing the Proteostatic Fates of Polar Low-Complexity Domains
Authors: Cascarina Sean M. , Kaplan Joshua P. , Elder Mikaela R. , Brookbank Lindsey , Ross Eric D.
Published: August 2021

Protein aggregation is associated with a growing list of human diseases. A substantial fraction of proteins in eukaryotic proteomes constitutes a proteostasis network—a collection of proteins that work together to maintain properly folded proteins. One of the overarching functions of the proteostasis network is the prevention or reversal of protein aggregation. How proteins aggregate in spite of the anti-aggregation activity of the proteostasis machinery is incompletely understood. Exposed hydrophobic patches can trigger degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a key branch of the proteostasis network. However, in a recent study, we found that model glycine (G)-rich or glutamine/asparagine (Q/N)-rich prion-like domains differ in their susceptibility to detection and degradation by this system. Here, we expand upon this work by examining whether the features controlling the degradation of our model prion-like domains generalize broadly to G-rich and Q/N-rich domains. Experimentally, native yeast G-rich domains in isolation are sensitive to the degradation-promoting effects of hydrophobic residues, whereas native Q/N-rich domains completely resist these effects and tend to aggregate instead. Bioinformatic analyses indicate that native G-rich domains from yeast and humans tend to avoid degradation-promoting features, suggesting that the proteostasis network may act as a form of selection at the molecular level that constrains the sequence space accessible to G-rich domains. However, the sensitivity or resistance of G-rich and Q/N-rich domains, respectively, was not always preserved in their native protein contexts, highlighting that proteins can evolve other sequence features to overcome the intrinsic sensitivity of some LCDs to degradation.
Metabolomics as a Tool to Elucidate the Sensory, Nutritional and Safety Quality of Wheat Bread—A Review
Authors: Păucean Adriana , Mureșan Vlad , Maria-Man Simona , Chiș Maria Simona , Mureșan Andruța Elena , Șerban Larisa Rebeca , Pop Anamaria , Muste Sevastița
Published: August 2021

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most extensively cultivated and used staple crops in human nutrition, while wheat bread is annually consumed in more than nine billion kilograms over the world. Consumers’ purchase decisions on wheat bread are largely influenced by its nutritional and sensorial characteristics. In the last decades, metabolomics is considered an effective tool for elucidating the information on metabolites; however, the deep investigations on metabolites still remain a difficult and longtime action. This review gives emphasis on the achievements in wheat bread metabolomics by highlighting targeted and untargeted analyses used in this field. The metabolomics approaches are discussed in terms of quality, processing and safety of wheat and bread, while the molecular mechanisms involved in the sensorial and nutritional characteristics of wheat bread are pointed out. These aspects are of crucial importance in the context of new consumers’ demands on healthy bakery products rich in bioactive compounds but, equally, with good sensorial acceptance. Moreover, metabolomics is a potential tool for assessing the changes in nutrient composition from breeding to processing, while monitoring and understanding the transformations of metabolites with bioactive properties, as well as the formation of compounds like toxins during wheat storage.
The Role of Fc Receptors on the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Gogesch Patricia , Dudek Simone , van Zandbergen Ger , Waibler Zoe , Anzaghe Martina
Published: August 2021

Since the approval of the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) in 1986, a huge effort has been made to guarantee safety and efficacy of therapeutic mAbs. As of July 2021, 118 mAbs are approved for the European market for a broad range of clinical indications. In order to ensure clinical efficacy and safety aspects, (pre-)clinical experimental approaches evaluate the respective modes of action (MoA). In addition to antigen-specificity including binding affinity and -avidity, MoA comprise Fc-mediated effector functions such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and the closely related antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). For this reason, a variety of cell-based assays have been established investigating effector functions of therapeutic mAbs with different effector/target-cell combinations and several readouts including Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-mediated lysis, fluorescence, or luminescence. Optimized FcγR-mediated effector functions regarding clinical safety and efficacy are addressed with modification strategies such as point mutations, altered glycosylation patterns, combination of different Fc subclasses (cross isotypes), and Fc-truncation of the mAb. These strategies opened the field for a next generation of therapeutic mAbs. In conclusion, it is of major importance to consider FcγR-mediated effector functions for the efficacy of therapeutic mAbs.
Thresholds of Endoglin Expression in Endothelial Cells Explains Vascular Etiology in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Type 1
Authors: Galaris Georgios , Montagne Kévin , Thalgott Jérémy H. , Goujon Geoffroy J. P. E. , van den Driesche Sander , Martin Sabrina , Mager Hans-Jurgen J. , Mummery Christine L. , Rabelink Ton J. , Lebrin Franck
Published: August 2021

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by arteriovenous malformations and hemorrhage. HHT1 is caused by mutations in ENDOGLIN, which encodes an ancillary receptor for Transforming Growth Factor-β/Bone Morphogenetic Protein-9 expressed in all vascular endothelial cells. Haploinsufficiency is widely accepted as the underlying mechanism for HHT1. However, it remains intriguing that only some, but not all, vascular beds are affected, as these causal gene mutations are present in vasculature throughout the body. Here, we have examined the endoglin expression levels in the blood vessels of multiple organs in mice and in humans. We found a positive correlation between low basal levels of endoglin and the general prevalence of clinical manifestations in selected organs. Endoglin was found to be particularly low in the skin, the earliest site of vascular lesions in HHT1, and even undetectable in the arteries and capillaries of heterozygous endoglin mice. Endoglin levels did not appear to be associated with organ-specific vascular functions. Instead, our data revealed a critical endoglin threshold compatible with the haploinsufficiency model, below which endothelial cells independent of their tissue of origin exhibited abnormal responses to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Our results support the development of drugs promoting endoglin expression as potentially protective.
Studying and Clustering Cities Based on Their Non-Emergency Service Requests
Authors: Hashemi Mahdi
Published: August 2021

This study offers a new perspective in analyzing 311 service requests (SRs) across the country by representing cities based on the types of their SRs. This not only uncovers temporal patterns of SRs in each city over the years but also detects cities with the most or least similarity to other cities based on their SR types. The first challenge is to gather 311 SRs for different cities and standardize their types since they differ in various cities. Implementing our analyses on close to 42 million SR records in 20 cities from 2006 to 2019 is the second challenge. Representing clusters of cities and outliers effectively, and providing justifications for them, is the last challenge. Our attempt resulted in 79 standardized SR types. We applied the principal component analysis to depict cities on a two-dimensional canvas based on their standardized SR types. Among our main findings are the following: many cities are observing a fall in requests regarding the condition of roads and sidewalks but a rise in requests concerning transportation and traffic; requests regarding garbage, cleaning, rodents, and complaints have also been rising in some cities; new types of requests have emerged and soared in recent years, such as requests for information and regarding shared mobility devices; requests about parking meters, information, sidewalks, curbs, graffities, and missed garbage pick up have the highest variance in their rates across different cities, i.e., they have a large rate in some cities while a low rate in others; the most consistent outliers, in terms of SR types, are Washington DC, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Baton Rouge.
Effect of Neonicotinoids on Bacterial Symbionts and Insecticide-Resistant Gene in Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Barman Mritunjoy , Samanta Snigdha , Thakur Himanshu , Chakraborty Swati , Samanta Arunava , Ghosh Amalendu , Tarafdar Jayanta
Published: August 2021

The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major threat to field and horticultural crops worldwide. Persistent use of insecticides for the management of this pest is a lingering problem. In the present study, the status of sensitivity of B. tabaci to two neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, was evaluated. The expression pattern of two cytochrome P450 (cyp) genes and changes in the relative amount of symbionts in insecticide-treated B. tabaci were also assessed. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) studies indicate that the CYP6CM1 and CYP6CX1 genes were always expressed higher in imidacloprid-treated whitefly, suggesting a correlation between gene expression and the insect’s ability to detoxify toxic compounds such as insecticides. In addition, the thiamethoxam-treated population harbored higher Portiera and lower Rickettsia titers, whereas the imidacloprid-treated population harbored more Rickettsia at different time intervals. Interestingly, we also examined that an increase in exposure to both the insecticides resulted in a reduction in the mutualistic partners from their insect host. These differential responses of endosymbionts to insecticide exposure imply the complex interactions among the symbionts inside the host insect. The results also provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of resistance development that might be useful for formulating effective management strategies to control B. tabaci by manipulating symbionts and detoxifying genes.
Three-Dimensional Culture of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus BmVIII-SCC Cells on Multiple Synthetic Scaffold Systems and in Rotating Bioreactors
Authors: Suderman Michael T. , Temeyer Kevin B. , Schlechte Kristie G. , Pérez de León Adalberto A.
Published: August 2021

Tick cell culture facilitates research on the biology of ticks and their role as vectors of pathogens that affect humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Because two-dimensional cell culture doesn’t promote the development of multicellular tissue-like composites, we hypothesized that culturing tick cells in a three-dimensional (3-D) configuration would form spheroids or tissue-like organoids. In this study, the cell line BmVIII-SCC obtained from the cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888), was cultured in different synthetic scaffold systems. Growth of the tick cells on macrogelatinous beads in rotating continuous culture system bioreactors enabled cellular attachment, organization, and development into spheroid-like aggregates, with evidence of tight cellular junctions between adjacent cells and secretion of an extracellular matrix. At least three cell morphologies were identified within the aggregates: fibroblast-like cells, small endothelial-like cells, and larger cells exhibiting multiple cytoplasmic endosomes and granular vesicles. These observations suggest that BmVIII-SCC cells adapted to 3-D culture retain pluripotency. Additional studies involving genomic analyses are needed to determine if BmVIII-SCC cells in 3-D culture mimic tick organs. Applications of 3-D culture to cattle fever tick research are discussed.
Workflows for Rapid Functional Annotation of Diverse Arthropod Genomes
Authors: Saha Surya , Cooksey Amanda M. , Childers Anna K. , Poelchau Monica F. , McCarthy Fiona M.
Published: August 2021

Genome sequencing of a diverse array of arthropod genomes is already underway, and these genomes will be used to study human health, agriculture, biodiversity, and ecology. These new genomes are intended to serve as community resources and provide the foundational information required to apply ‘omics technologies to a more diverse set of species. However, biologists require genome annotation to use these genomes and derive a better understanding of complex biological systems. Genome annotation incorporates two related, but distinct, processes: Demarcating genes and other elements present in genome sequences (structural annotation); and associating a function with genetic elements (functional annotation). While there are well-established and freely available workflows for structural annotation of gene identification in newly assembled genomes, workflows for providing the functional annotation required to support functional genomics studies are less well understood. Genome-scale functional annotation is required for functional modeling (enrichment, networks, etc.). A first-pass genome-wide functional annotation effort can rapidly identify under-represented gene sets for focused community annotation efforts. We present an open-source, open access, and containerized pipeline for genome-scale functional annotation of insect proteomes and apply it to various arthropod species. We show that the performance of the predictions is consistent across a set of arthropod genomes with varying assembly and annotation quality.
Identification and Characterization of MicroRNAs in Gonads of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Li Leyao , Wang Shan , Huang Kaiyuan , Zhang Yuting , Li Yalu , Zhang Min , Huang Jinyong , Deng Zhongyuan , Ni Xinzhi , Li Xianchun
Published: August 2021

The high fecundity of the most destructive pest Helicoverpa armigera and its great resistance risk to insecticides and Bt crops make the reproductive-destruction-based control of this pest extremely appealing. To find suitable targets for disruption of its reproduction, we observed the testis and ovary development of H. armigera and conducted deep sequencing of the ovary and testis small RNAs of H. armigera and quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) validation to identify reproduction-related micro RNAs (miRNAs). A total of 7,592,150 and 8,815,237 clean reads were obtained from the testis and ovary tissue, respectively. After further analysis, we obtained 173 novel and 74 known miRNAs from the two libraries. Among the 74 known miRNAs, 60 miRNAs existed in the ovary and 72 existed in the testis. Further RT-qPCR validation of 5 miRNAs from the ovary and 6 miRNAs from the testis confirmed 8 of them were indeed ovary- (miR-989a, miR-263-5p, miR-34) or testis-biased (miR-2763, miR-998, miR-2c, miR-2765, miR-252a-5p). The 8 ovary- or testis-biased miRNAs had a total of 30,172 putative non-redundant target transcripts, as predicted by miRanda and RNAhybrid. Many of these target transcripts are assigned to reproduction-related GO terms (e.g., oocyte maturation, vitellogenesis, spermatogenesis) and are members of multiple reproduction-related KEGG pathways, such as the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, the insulin signaling pathway, and insect hormone biosynthesis. These results suggest that the 8 gonad-biased miRNAs play important roles in reproduction and may be used as the targets for the development of reproductive-destruction-based control of H. armigera and, possibly, other lepidopteran pests.
Laparoscopic Liver Resection Enhanced by an Intervention-Guided Fluorescence Imaging Technique Using Sodium Fluorescein
Authors: Lee Chang-Min , Jeong Min-Young , Yoon Sam-Youl
Published: August 2021

Background and Objectives: In laparoscopic liver resections, tumor localization is a critical aspect of ensuring clear resection margins and preserving the hepatic parenchyma. In this study, we designed a fluorescence imaging technique using a new fluorophore for tumor localization. Materials and Methods: Immediately before laparoscopic or transthoracic liver resection, microcatheter was inserted through the hepatic artery and used to engrave the segment containing the tumor in the intervention room. Under blue light, the fluorescence of the lesion was visually confirmed, and the location was determined through intraoperative sonography. After tumor localization, liver resection was performed. Results: From February 2017 to March 2020, 24 patients underwent laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) or video-assisted transthoracic liver resection (VTLR) using intervention-guided fluorescence imaging technique (IFIT). Conclusions: IFIT can provide some advantages in the field of LLR. In addition, in cases of VTLR for hepatocellular carcinoma in the superior posterior segment in patients with marginal liver function, IFIT is considered useful.
Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Cataract Surgery Combined with Iris-Fixated Phakic Intraocular Lens Explantation: A Multicentre Study
Authors: Omoto Miki Kamikawatoko , Torii Hidemasa , Masui Sachiko , Ayaki Masahiko , Toda Ikuko , Arai Hiroyuki , Nakamura Tomoaki , Tsubota Kazuo , Negishi Kazuno
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of cataract surgery for patients with iris-fixated phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs). This study included 96 eyes of 91 patients. The changes in the logMAR uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subjective spherical equivalent (SE), astigmatism, and endothelial cell density (ECD) were collected retrospectively. The intraoperative and postoperative complications also were investigated to assess the surgical safety. The preoperative UCVA and BCVA improved significantly at month 1 postoperatively, respectively (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The efficacy and safety index at month 1 postoperatively were 1.02 ± 0.56 and 1.31 ± 0.64, respectively. The SE at month 1 postoperatively was significantly (p < 0.001) higher compared to preoperatively, whereas the subjective astigmatism did not differ significantly (p = 0.078). The ECD significantly decreased at month 1 (p < 0.001). The most common postoperative complication was intraocular pressure elevation exceeding 25 mmHg in 10.4% of eyes, which was controlled with medications in all cases until month 1 postoperatively. No intraoperative complications developed. Cataract surgeries for patients with iris-fixated pIOLs were performed safely with good visual outcomes.
Autoantibodies to Vasoregulative G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Correlate with Symptom Severity, Autonomic Dysfunction and Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Freitag Helma , Szklarski Marvin , Lorenz Sebastian , Sotzny Franziska , Bauer Sandra , Philippe Aurélie , Kedor Claudia , Grabowski Patricia , Lange Tanja , Riemekasten Gabriela , Heidecke Harald , Scheibenbogen Carmen
Published: August 2021

Background: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is an acquired complex disease with patients suffering from the cardinal symptoms of fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), cognitive impairment, pain and autonomous dysfunction. ME/CFS is triggered by an infection in the majority of patients. Initial evidence for a potential role of natural regulatory autoantibodies (AAB) to beta-adrenergic (AdR) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M-AChR) in ME/CFS patients comes from a few studies. Methods: Here, we analyzed the correlations of symptom severity with levels of AAB to vasoregulative AdR, AChR and Endothelin-1 type A and B (ETA/B) and Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor in a Berlin cohort of ME/CFS patients (n = 116) by ELISA. The severity of disease, symptoms and autonomic dysfunction were assessed by questionnaires. Results: We found levels of most AABs significantly correlated with key symptoms of fatigue and muscle pain in patients with infection-triggered onset. The severity of cognitive impairment correlated with AT1-R- and ETA-R-AAB and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms with alpha1/2-AdR-AAB. In contrast, the patients with non-infection-triggered ME/CFS showed fewer and other correlations. Conclusion: Correlations of specific AAB against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) with symptoms provide evidence for a role of these AAB or respective receptor pathways in disease pathomechanism.
Low Preoperative Mean Platelet Volume/Platelet Count Ratio Indicates Worse Prognosis in Non-Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lin Yu-Chiao , Jan Hau-Chern , Ou Horng-Yih , Ou Chien-Hui , Hu Che-Yuan
Published: August 2021

Objectives: Multiple blood parameters are used to determine the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Mean platelet volume/platelet count (MPV/PC) ratio is related to disease progression in various cancers. Our study tried to evaluate the prognostic value of the MPV/PC ratio in RCC patients who underwent surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 89 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for RCC in a single institution. Baseline characteristics and MPV/PC ratios were analyzed. The optimal cut-off value of the MPV/PC ratio was determined by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and our patients were divided into low and high MPV/PC ratio groups. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazards model were applied for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) analyses. Harell’s C-index was used to compare the prognostic values of the MPV/PC ratio, MPV and PC. Results: Lower MPV/PC ratios were correlated with more advanced tumor stages and worse outcomes. The optimal cut-off value of the preoperative MPV/PC ratio was 0.034 (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 56.6%). The Kaplan–Meier survival curve revealed that low MPV/PC ratios were associated with worse PFS (p = 0.007) and OS (p = 0.017). Multivariate analysis showed that low MPV/PC ratios were an independent unfavorable factor for PFS (p = 0.044) and OS (p = 0.015). Harell’s C-indexes showed that the prognostic value of the MPV/PC ratio was significantly better than MPV and PC (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Low MPV/PC ratios are an independent, unfavorable risk factor for disease progression and overall survival in patients undergoing surgery for RCC.
Association between Perceived Stress and Rhinitis-Related Quality of Life: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kong Il Gyu , Rhee Chae-Seo , Lee Jung Woo , Yim Hyojin , Kim Min Jung , Choi Yunhee , Han Doo Hee ,   on behalf of the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort Study Group
Published: August 2021

Allergic rhinitis (AR), a common chronic disease, impairs patients’ quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to determine the effect of perceived stress on disease-related QoL in AR patients. There were 741 patients from eight medical centers of the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort (ARCO) study. Data on sociodemographics, chronic conditions, AR severity, perceived stress level and Rhinoconjunctivitis QoL Questionnaire (RQLQ) results, and laboratory test findings were collected. The relationship between perceived stress and total RQLQ was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Potential confounding variables were adjusted. A high perceived stress level was associated with a high total RQLQ, which reflected worsening disease-related QoL. The high stress level was associated with an increased total RQLQ of 1.210 (95% confidence interval, 0.831–1.589; p < 0.0001) compared with the very low level. In the final model, the multiple regression-adjusted R2 for RQLQ in AR participants was 0.5279, and perceived stress levels contributed 4.08% in additional explanatory power to RQLQ in AR patients. In conclusion, perceived stress is a potentially modifiable risk factor for decreased disease-related QoL in patients with AR, which may be improved with stress management.
Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure
Authors: Triposkiadis Filippos , Xanthopoulos Andrew , Bargiota Alexandra , Kitai Takeshi , Katsiki Niki , Farmakis Dimitrios , Skoularigis John , Starling Randall C. , Iliodromitis Efstathios
Published: August 2021

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for new-onset heart failure (HF) and vice versa. The pathogenesis of new-onset HF in DM is complex and has been largely attributed to the toxic cardiovascular effects of hyperglycemia and relevant metabolic abnormalities (diabetic cardiomyopathy) as well as the frequently coexisting morbidities such as hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetic nephropathy. In patients with type 1 DM (T1DM), HF develops in the setting of a dysregulated immune response, whereas in most patients with type 2 DM (T2DM), against a background of overweight/obesity. HF prevention in DM is feasible with rigorous treatment of cardiovascular risk factors and selective antidiabetic agents. Conversely, development of new-onset T2DM in HF (cardiogenic DM) is common and has been attributed to an increase in the resistance to insulin, especially in the skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue as well as in diminished insulin secretory response to hyperglycemia by pancreatic β-cells. Cardiogenic DM further deteriorates cardiac dysfunction and adversely affects outcome in HF. Novel lifesaving medications employed in HF management such as sacubitril/valsartan and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have a favorable metabolic profile and lower the incidence of cardiogenic diabetes. Whether mitigation of cardiogenic DM should be a treatment target in HF deserves further investigation.
Procollagen I and III as Prognostic Markers in Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Boesing Christoph , Graf Peter T. , Thiel Manfred , Luecke Thomas , Krebs Joerg
Published: August 2021

Background: Procollagen peptides have been associated with lung fibroproliferation and poor outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, serum procollagen concentrations might have prognostic value in ARDS patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods: In a prospective cohort study, serum N-terminal procollagen I-peptide (PINP) and N-terminal procollagen III-peptide (PIIINP) concentrations in twenty-three consecutive patients with severe ARDS treated with ECMO were measured at the time of ECMO initiation and during the course of treatment. The predictive value of PINP and PIIINP at the time of ECMO initiation was tested with a univariable logistic regression and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Thirteen patients survived to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Non-survivors had higher serum PINP and PIIINP concentrations at all points in time during the course of treatment. Serum PIIINP at the day of ECMO initiation showed an odds ratio of 1.37 (95% CI 1.10–1.89, p = 0.017) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.87 (95% CI 0.69–1.00, p = 0.0029) for death during the course of treatment. Conclusions: PINP and PIIINP concentrations differ between survivors and non-survivors in ARDS treated with ECMO. This exploratory hypothesis generating study suggests an association between PIIINP serum concentrations at ECMO initiation and an unfavorable clinical outcome.