bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teleost innate immunity, an intricate game between immune cells and parasites of fish organs: who wins, who loses
Authors: Sayyaf Dezfuli Bahram , Lorenzoni Massimo , Carosi Antonella , Giari Luisa , Bosi Giampaolo
Published: October 2023

Fish, comprising over 27,000 species, represent the oldest vertebrate group and possess both innate and adaptive immune systems. The susceptibility of most wild fish to parasitic infections and related diseases is well-established. Among all vertebrates, the digestive tract creates a remarkably favorable and nutrient-rich environment, which, in turn, renders it susceptible to microparasites and macroparasites. Consequently, metazoan parasites emerge as important disease agents, impacting both wild and farmed fish and resulting in substantial economic losses. Given their status as pathogenic organisms, these parasites warrant considerable attention. Helminths, a general term encompassing worms, constitute one of the most important groups of metazoan parasites in fish. This group includes various species of platyhelminthes (digeneans, cestodes), nematodes, and acanthocephalans. In addition, myxozoans, microscopic metazoan endoparasites, are found in water-dwelling invertebrates and vertebrate hosts. It is worth noting that several innate immune cells within the fish alimentary canal and certain visceral organs (e.g., liver, spleen, and gonads) play active roles in the immune response against parasites. These immune cells include macrophages, neutrophils, rodlet cells, and mast cells also known as eosinophilic granular cells. At the site of intestinal infection, helminths often impact mucous cells number and alter mucus composition. This paper presents an overview of the state of the art on the occurrence and characteristics of innate immune cells in the digestive tract and other visceral organs in different fish-parasite systems. The data, coming especially from studies employed immunohistochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural analyses, provide evidence supporting the involvement of teleost innate immune cells in modulating inflammatory responses to metazoan and protozoan parasitic infections.
Enhanced expression of natural cytotoxicity receptors on cytokine-induced memory-like natural killer cells correlates with effector function
Authors: Carreira-Santos Sofía , López-Sejas Nelson , González-Sánchez Marina , Sánchez-Hernández Eva , Pera Alejandra , Hassouneh Fakhri , Durán Esther , Solana Rafael , Casado Javier G. , Tarazona Raquel
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Natural killer (NK) cells are a key component of the innate immune system, involved in defending the host against virus-infected cells and tumor immunosurveillance. Under in vitro culture conditions, IL-12/15/18 can induce a memory-like phenotype in NK cells. These cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML) NK cells possess desirable characteristics for immunotherapies, including a longer lifespan and increased cytotoxicity.

Methods

In this study, NK cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors and stimulated with IL-12/15/18 to induce a memory-like phenotype or with IL-15 alone as a control. After seven days of culture, multiparametric flow cytometry analysis was performed to evaluate the phenotypic and functional profiles of CIML and control NK cells.

Results

Our results showed a significantly higher expression of CD25, CD69, NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, TACTILE, and Granzyme B in CIML NK cells compared to control NK cells. In contrast, KIR2D expression was significantly lower in CIML NK cells than in control NK cells. Moreover, functional experiments demonstrated that CIML NK cells displayed enhanced degranulation capacity and increased intracellular IFN-γ production against the target cell line K562. Interestingly, the degranulation capacity of CIML NK cells was positively correlated with the expression of the activating receptors NKp46 and NKp30, as well as with the inhibitory receptor TACTILE.

Discussion

In conclusion, this study provides a deep phenotypic characterization of in vitro-expanded CIML NK cells. Moreover, the correlations found between NK cell receptors and degranulation capacity of CIML NK cells allowed the identification of several biomarkers that could be useful in clinical settings.
Prolonged mask wearing changed nasal microbial characterization of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China
Authors: Xiang Guoxiu , Xu Kai , Jian Ying , He Lei , Shen Zhen , Li Min , Liu Qian
Published: October 2023

Background

Face masks have become a common sight during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in many countries. However, the impact of prolonged face mask wearing on nasal microbiota of healthy people is not fully understood.

Methods

In this study, we compared the nasal microbiota of 82 young adults who wore face masks for an extended period of time to 172 mask-free peers from the same school recruited before the COVID-19 pandemic via 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Diversity, composition, and function of nasal microbiota between the two groups were analyzed. Prevalence of commensal bacteria colonized in the nasal cavity was determined by culture-based analysis.

Results

We observed that prolonged face mask wearers had significantly different nasal microbial characterization and metabolic function compared to mask-free controls from 2018. Specifically, the nasal microbiota of the prolonged mask wearers displayed increased abundance of Staphylococcus, Pseudoalteromonas, Corynebacterium, etc. Meanwhile, the abundance of several genera including Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and Agathobacter was decreased. Moreover, we observed that COVID-19 infection history did not affect the composition of nasal microbiota significantly. Additionally, the culture-based analysis revealed that Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium accolens increased, and Staphylococcus epidermidis decreased in the nasal cavity of prolonged mask wearers.

Conclusions

Overall, our study suggests that prolonged face mask wearing can significantly alter the nasal microbiota.
Differences in the inflammatory response among hospitalized patients with distinct variants of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Homen-Fernandez Jose-Reynaldo , Valls Adrián , García Ana , Cabello Noemí , Ortega Isabel , Orviz Eva , Foncubierta Carlos , Martínez Mercedes , Estrada Vicente
Published: October 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 variants demonstrate diverse transmission patterns, modifications in infectivity, and immune response. Changes in disease manifestation may be attributed to vaccination and the virus’s reduced capacity to induce inflammation.

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between the inflammatory response and the characteristics of COVID-19 across successive waves.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data of Alpha (G1), Delta (G2), and Omicron (G3) variants.

Results

A total of 300 patients from a hospital in Madrid, Spain, were included. The groups exhibited similar sociodemographic and baseline characteristics. The Alpha variant predominantly affected younger patients, while the Omicron variant affected patients with a higher prevalence of comorbidities. The Alpha group had the lowest vaccination rate compared to the highest rate in the Omicron group. The Alpha group received a higher proportion of tocilizumab compared to the other groups. Despite these differences, the severity scores were similar among the three variants. Regarding laboratory parameters, differences were observed in haemoglobin, D-dimer, alkaline phosphatase, and potassium levels. The Omicron variant showed higher D-dimer levels (p=0.04). In the multivariate analysis, differences in leukocyte count, haemoglobin, alkaline phosphatase, and potassium levels were consistently observed among patients from different waves. Omicron exhibited a higher absolute leukocyte count than the Alpha variant (p=0.003).

Conclusion

No significant differences were found in inflammation biomarkers among the three variants. Furthermore, there were no significant disparities in mortality or disease severity. The level of inflammatory response in patients may be determined by the severity of COVID-19, rather than the specific viral variant.
Evaluating immunological and inflammatory changes of treatment-experienced people living with HIV switching from first-line triple cART regimens to DTG/3TC vs. B/F/TAF: the DEBATE trial
Authors: Cossarizza Andrea , Cozzi-Lepri Alessandro , Mattioli Marco , Paolini Annamaria , Neroni Anita , De Biasi Sara , Tartaro Domenico Lo , Borella Rebecca , Fidanza Lucia , Gibellini Lara , Beghetto Barbara , Roncaglia Enrica , Nardini Giulia , Milic Jovana , Menozzi Marianna , Cuomo Gianluca , Digaetano Margherita , Orlando Gabriella , Borghi Vanni , Guaraldi Giovanni , Mussini Cristina
Published: October 2023

Background

The aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to compare immunological changes in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching from a three-drug regimen (3DR) to a two-drug regimen (2DR).

Methods

An open-label, prospective RCT enrolling PLWH receiving a 3DR who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) or dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was performed. Blood was taken at baseline and months 6 and 12. The primary outcome was the change in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratio over time points. The secondary outcomes were the changes in immunological and inflammatory parameters. Parametric mixed-linear models with random intercepts and slopes were fitted separately for each marker after controlling for potential confounders.

Results

Between the two arms (33 PLWH each), there was no difference in CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, and IL-6 trajectories. PLWH switching to DTG/3TC had increased levels of both transitional memory and terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells (arm–time interaction p-value = 0.02) and to a lesser extent for the corresponding CD8+ T-cell subsets (p = 0.09). Significantly lower levels of non-classical monocytes were detected in the B/F/TAF arm at T6 (diff = −6.7 cells/mm3; 95% CI; −16, +2.6; p-value for interaction between arm and time = 0.03). All differences were attenuated at T12.

Conclusion

No evidence for a difference in absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, CD4/CD8 ratio, and IL-6 trajectories by study arm over 12 months was found. PLWH on DTG/3TC showed higher levels of terminally differentiated and exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and non-classical monocytes at T6. Further studies are warranted to better understand the clinical impact of our results.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04054089.
Diversity of filter feeding and variations in cross-flow filtration of five ram-feeding fish species
Authors: Hamann Leandra , Schreiber Kristina , Hagenmeyer Jan , Eduardo Santiago , Spanke Tobias , Blanke Alexander
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Filter-feeding fish separate food particles from the surrounding water by cross-flow filtration in which a suspension flows parallel to a porous filter medium, thereby transporting particles along the surface.

Methods

Here, we investigate cross-flow filtration in five ram-feeding fish species from two groups, Scombridae (Scomber scombrus and Rastrelliger kanagurta) and Clupeidae (Clupea harengus, Sardina pilchardus, and Engraulis encrasicolus). Using a combination of morphometrics, micro-CT scanning, video analysis, and water tunnel experiments, we give a detailed description of the gill arch system, calculate filtration parameters, observe particle movement, and identify morphological traits that induce cross-flow filtration.

Results

Our findings suggest that these ram-feeding fish species use a combination of cross-flow and dead-end filtration as the underlying filtration principle. Specifically, the particles are transported along the surface of gill rakers and denticles towards the esophagus where they accumulate before being periodically swallowed. We infer three distinct morphotypes characterized by variations in geometry, mesh size, and surface structures, which indicate variations of the general mechanism.

Discussion

The description presented in this study contributes to the development of models for investigating the influence of morphological variation on fluid flow and particle retention in filter-feeding fish and on their ecology and biomimetic application.
The correlation between red cell distribution width to albumin ratio and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with rheumatic diseases: a population-based retrospective study
Authors: Yin Lijuan , Min Jie , Zhong Lei , Shen Qikai
Published: October 2023

Background

Patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased likelihood of being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), highlighting the importance of promptly identifying high-risk individuals to enhance prognosis. This study aimed to assess the correlation of red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio (RAR) with the 90-days and 360-days survival rates among critically ill rheumatic patients.

Methods

Adult rheumatic patients admitted to the ICU from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database were included. The participants were categorized into two groups, survivors (n = 436) and non-survivors (n = 192), based on their 90-days survival outcome. The population was further classified into tertiles using RAR values, with RAR < 4.63 (n = 208), 4.63–6.07 (n = 211), and > 6.07 (n = 209). Kaplan–Meier curves were utilized to evaluate the cumulative survival rates at 90-days and 360-days. The association between RAR and mortality was assessed using restricted cubic splines (RCS) and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Additional subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to further explore the findings. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate the predictive performance of RAR.

Results

This study involved 628 critically ill patients with rheumatic diseases, and they had an all-cause mortality of 30.57% at 90-days and 38.69% at 360-days. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a gradual decrease in both 90-days and 360-days cumulative survival with increasing RAR (χ2 = 24.400, p < 0.001; χ2 = 35.360, p < 0.001). RCS revealed that RAR was linearly related to 90-days and 360-days all-cause mortality risk for critically ill patients with rheumatic diseases (χ2 = 4.360, p = 0.225; χ2 = 1.900, p = 0.594). Cox regression analysis indicated that elevated RAR (> 6.07) was significantly correlated with mortality. The ROC curves demonstrated that an optimal cut-off value of RAR for predicting 90-days mortality was determined to be 5.453, yielding a sensitivity of 61.5% and specificity of 60.3%.

Conclusion

Elevated RAR (> 6.07) was associated with all-cause mortality at 90-days and 360-days among critically ill patients with rheumatic diseases, serving as an independent risk factor for unfavorable prognosis.
Distinct temporal trajectories and risk factors for Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Chen Chen , Parthasarathy Sairam , Leung Jacqueline M. , Wu Michelle J. , Drake Katherine A. , Ridaura Vanessa K. , Zisser Howard C. , Conrad William A. , Tapson Victor F. , Moy James N. , deFilippi Christopher R. , Rosas Ivan O. , Prabhakar Bellur S. , Basit Mujeeb , Salvatore Mirella , Krishnan Jerry A. , Kim Charles C.
Published: October 2023

Background

The understanding of Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) can be improved by longitudinal assessment of symptoms encompassing the acute illness period. To gain insight into the various disease trajectories of PASC, we assessed symptom evolution and clinical factors associated with the development of PASC over 3 months, starting with the acute illness period.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study to identify parameters associated with PASC. We performed cluster and case control analyses of clinical data, including symptomatology collected over 3 months following infection.

Results

We identified three phenotypic clusters associated with PASC that could be characterized as remittent, persistent, or incident based on the 3-month change in symptom number compared to study entry: remittent (median; min, max: −4; −17, 3), persistent (−2; −14, 7), or incident (4.5; −5, 17) (p = 0.041 remittent vs. persistent, p < 0.001 remittent vs. incident, p < 0.001 persistent vs. incident). Despite younger age and lower hospitalization rates, the incident phenotype had a greater number of symptoms (15; 8, 24) and a higher proportion of participants with PASC (63.2%) than the persistent (6; 2, 9 and 52.2%) or remittent clusters (1; 0, 6 and 18.7%). Systemic corticosteroid administration during acute infection was also associated with PASC at 3 months [OR (95% CI): 2.23 (1.14, 4.36)].

Conclusion

An incident disease phenotype characterized by symptoms that were absent during acute illness and the observed association with high dose steroids during acute illness have potential critical implications for preventing PASC.
Case report: Success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for refractory systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Beaufils Camille , Proulx Catherine , Blincoe Annaliesse , Teira Pierre , Bittencourt Henrique , Cellot Sonia , Duval Michel , Morin Marie-Paule , De Bruycker Jean Jacques , Couture Julie , Samaan Kathryn , Decaluwe Hélène , Kleiber Niina , El-Jalbout Ramy , Touzot Fabien , Haddad Elie , Barsalou Julie
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study reports cases of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) at our center and reviews published outcomes of allo-HSCT in sJIA.

Methods

We present a case report of two patients with sJIA who underwent allo-HSCT at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Each patient’s disease course and allo-HSCT protocol/outcome are described. Outcomes of published cases of allo-HSCT in sJIA were compared to our experience.

Results

Two patients with sJIA had allo-HSCT. Both failed multiple lines of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and experienced severe disease/treatment-related complications. Despite post-HSCT complications, both recovered without sequelae. Five years post-HSCT, patient 1 is in complete remission (CR) and is off medications. Patient 2 was in CR until 11 months post-HSCT after which he developed three disease flares. At 4 years post-HSCT he is currently in CR on Adalimumab monotherapy. Engraftment was excellent with a donor chimerism of 100% for patient 1 and 93% for patient 2. In the literature, the outcome of allo-HSCT is reported in 13 sJIA patients. When merging those with our 2 patients, 1/15 patients died and 13/14 achieved CR, of which 12 are off medications (median [range] follow-up: 2.2 [0.2–7.0] years). Extended follow-up data on 11 of the 13 reported sJIA patients showed that an additional 3 patients flared at 3, 4, and 10 years post-HSCT.

Conclusion

We report two patients with severe/refractory sJIA who underwent successful allo-HSCT and achieved CR. Allo-HSCT is a potential curative option for severe/refractory sJIA. It should be considered only after failure of conventional sJIA treatments and when an HLA-matched donor is available in order to lower transplant-related mortality. The outcomes of reported sJIA patients who received allo-HSCT are encouraging but long-term follow-up data are needed to better characterized the risk–benefit ratio of this procedure.
An analytical and in silico strategy for estimating maximum stress and fatigue life of bone plates under in vivo loads: a rationale for regulatory testing
Authors: Bologna Federico Andrea , Audenino Alberto Luigi , Terzini Mara
Published: October 2023

Despite the innovations introduced by locking compression plates (LCP), implant failures still occur due to fatigue fractures caused by cyclic loads. The endurance of LCP, especially in lower limb plates subjected to ambulatory cyclic loads, is a critical factor that needs to be understood. Unfortunately, there is limited information available on the fatigue failure of LCP. The fatigue behavior is a crucial aspect of mandatory mechanical tests for regulatory purposes, which aim to determine the load at which the plate withstands under a specific number of cycles, known as the runout condition. The current test standards, such as ASTM F382, only provide the setup configuration without furnishing explicit guidelines regarding the required fatigue strength of the bone plate in the runout condition. The determination of the minimum level of in vivo performance that the plate must fulfill remains an open issue, which is frequently addressed by the direct comparison with predicate devices. To address this issue, this study proposes a rationale that combines analytical and in silico approaches to estimate the maximum stress and fatigue life of a bone plate under in vivo loads. Four-point bending tests were conducted on a diaphyseal femoral plate to determine the experimental runout load. Analytical and finite element (FE) models were first implemented to replicate the four-point bending setup and to calculate the maximum stress on the plate. The Goodman and Gerber criteria were exploited to determine the mean stress effect due to the four-point bending setup and to verify the predicted number of cycles. In addition, the force-displacement curves of the FE model were validated by means of experimental results. Analytical and FE models were then applied to calculate the maximum stress and assess the performance of the implanted plate under in vivo loading conditions. In the implanted plate condition, a mean number of cycles higher than 1.5 million was estimated. Analytical models showed good performance compared with in silico strategies, exhibiting errors below 6%. The comparison between the obtained results provides valuable insights for constructing a robust rationale to support the regulatory process in order to obtain CE marking.
Antiviral activity of zinc against hepatitis viruses: current status and future prospects
Authors: Kumar Shiv , Ansari Shabnam , Narayanan Sriram , Ranjith-Kumar C. T. , Surjit Milan
Published: October 2023

Viral hepatitis is a major public health concern globally. World health organization aims at eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Among the hepatitis causing viruses, hepatitis B and C are primarily transmitted via contaminated blood. Hepatitis A and E, which gets transmitted primarily via the feco-oral route, are the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis. Although vaccines are available against some of these viruses, new cases continue to be reported. There is an urgent need to devise a potent yet economical antiviral strategy against the hepatitis-causing viruses (denoted as hepatitis viruses) for achieving global elimination of viral hepatitis. Although zinc was known to mankind for a long time (since before Christ era), it was identified as an element in 1746 and its importance for human health was discovered in 1963 by the pioneering work of Dr. Ananda S. Prasad. A series of follow up studies involving zinc supplementation as a therapy demonstrated zinc as an essential element for humans, leading to establishment of a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 15 milligram zinc [United States RDA for zinc]. Being an essential component of many cellular enzymes and transcription factors, zinc is vital for growth and homeostasis of most living organisms, including human. Importantly, several studies indicate potent antiviral activity of zinc. Multiple studies have demonstrated antiviral activity of zinc against viruses that cause hepatitis. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the findings on antiviral activity of zinc against hepatitis viruses, discusses the mechanisms underlying the antiviral properties of zinc and summarizes the prospects of harnessing the therapeutic benefit of zinc supplementation therapy in reducing the disease burden due to viral hepatitis.
Structural properties of the HNF-1A transactivation domain
Authors: Kind Laura , Driver Mark , Raasakka Arne , Onck Patrick R. , Njølstad Pål Rasmus , Arnesen Thomas , Kursula Petri
Published: October 2023

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF-1A) is a transcription factor with important gene regulatory roles in pancreatic β-cells. HNF1A gene variants are associated with a monogenic form of diabetes (HNF1A-MODY) or an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. While several pancreatic target genes of HNF-1A have been described, a lack of knowledge regarding the structure-function relationships in HNF-1A prohibits a detailed understanding of HNF-1A-mediated gene transcription, which is important for precision medicine and improved patient care. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the understudied transactivation domain (TAD) of HNF-1A in vitro. We present a bioinformatic approach to dissect the TAD sequence, analyzing protein structure, sequence composition, sequence conservation, and the existence of protein interaction motifs. Moreover, we developed the first protocol for the recombinant expression and purification of the HNF-1A TAD. Small-angle X-ray scattering and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism suggested a disordered conformation for the TAD. Furthermore, we present functional data on HNF-1A undergoing liquid-liquid phase separation, which is in line with in silico predictions and may be of biological relevance for gene transcriptional processes in pancreatic β-cells.
Behavioral evidence of the functional interaction between the main and accessory olfactory system suggests a large olfactory system with a high plastic capability
Authors: Mier Quesada Zacnite , Portillo Wendy , Paredes Raúl G.
Published: October 2023

Olfaction is fundamental in many species of mammals. In rodents, the integrity of this system is required for the expression of parental and sexual behavior, mate recognition, identification of predators, and finding food. Different anatomical and physiological evidence initially indicated the existence of two anatomically distinct chemosensory systems: The main olfactory system (MOS) and the accessory olfactory system (AOS). It was originally conceived that the MOS detected volatile odorants related to food, giving the animal information about the environment. The AOS, on the other hand, detected non-volatile sexually relevant olfactory cues that influence reproductive behaviors and neuroendocrine functions such as intermale aggression, sexual preference, maternal aggression, pregnancy block (Bruce effect), puberty acceleration (Vandenbergh effect), induction of estrous (Whitten effect) and sexual behavior. Over the last decade, several lines of evidence have demonstrated that although these systems could be anatomically separated, there are neuronal areas in which they are interconnected. Moreover, it is now clear that both the MOS and the AOS process both volatile and no-volatile odorants, indicating that they are also functionally interconnected. In the first part of the review, we will describe the behavioral evidence. In the second part, we will summarize data from our laboratory and other research groups demonstrating that sexual behavior in male and female rodents induces the formation of new neurons that reach the main and accessory olfactory bulbs from the subventricular zone. Three factors are essential for the neurons to reach the AOS and the MOS: The stimulation frequency, the stimulus’s temporal presentation, and the release of opioids induced by sexual behavior. We propose that the AOS and the MOS are part of a large olfactory system with a high plastic capability, which favors the adaptation of species to different environmental signals.
Application of intraarterial superselective indocyanine green angiography in bypass surgery for adult moyamoya disease
Authors: Ni Haojin , Wu Yiwen , Zhou Chenhui , Li Xianru , Zhou Shengjun , Lan Wenting , Zhang Zhimeng , Huang Yi , Wang Haifeng , Lin Jinghui
Published: October 2023

Background

Extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery is the main treatment approach to moyamoya disease, and an accurate assessment of the patency of anastomosis is critical for successful surgery. So far, the most common way to do this is the intraoperative intravenous indocyanine green (ICG) video-angiography. Intra-arterial ICG-VA has been applied to treat peripheral cerebral aneurysms, spinal arteriovenous fistulas, and dural arteriovenous fistulas, but few reports have concerned the use of arterial injection of ICG to evaluate anastomotic patency. This research aims to explore the feasibility and effects of catheter-guided superficial temporal artery injection of ICG in the evaluation of anastomotic patency after bypass surgery.

Methods

In this study, 20 patients with moyamoya disease or syndrome who underwent bypass surgery were divided into two groups, one who received intravenous ICG angiography and the other who received intra-arterial ICG angiography, to compare the two injection methods for vascular anastomosis patency. We conducted conventional intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in a hybrid operating room during extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery, including the additional step of injecting ICG into the main trunk of the superficial temporal artery (STA) through a catheter.

Results

Intra-arterial injection of indocyanine green video-angiography (ICG-VA) indicated good patency of the vascular anastomosis when compared with conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and intravenous ICG-VA, confirming the feasibility of using the arterial injection of ICG for assessing anastomotic patency. And intra-arterial ICG-VA results in faster visualization than intravenous ICG-VA (p < 0.05). Besides, ICG-VA through arterial injection provided valuable information on the vascular blood flow direction after the bypass surgery, and allowed for visual inspection of the range of cortical brain supply from the superficial temporal artery and venous return from the cortex. Moreover, arterial injection of ICG offered a rapid dye washout effect, reducing the repeat imaging time.

Conclusion

This study indicates that intra-arterial ICG-VA has good effects in observing the direction of blood flow in blood vessels and the range of cortical brain supply from the STA, which reflects blood flow near the anastomosis and provides additional information that may allow the postoperative prediction of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome. However, the procedure of intra-arterial ICG-VA is relatively complicated compared to intravenous ICG-VA.
Effect of high-quality nursing on neurological function psychological moods quality of life of elderly patients with stroke
Authors: Gao Na , Li Yaqiang , Sang Changru , He Jiale , Chen Congxia
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The primary objective of the present investigation was to meticulously examine the efficacy of high-quality nursing care (HQN) on neurological restoration, amelioration of adverse psychological states, and augmentation of quality of life in geriatric patients diagnosed with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Methods

A cohort of 240 patients, afflicted by ACI and admitted to our healthcare institution between February 2020 and March 2023, were incorporated into this longitudinal prospective analysis. Employing a random number table methodology, the patient cohort was bifurcated into a control group (n = 120) receiving conventional care and an observation group (n = 120) receiving HQN. Comparisons were conducted between the two cohorts concerning neurological functionality [as quantified by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scales (NIHSS) and Barthel Index (BI) scores], psychological wellbeing [utilizing the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores], overall quality of life [assessed via the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) scores], and self-perceived burden [evaluated through the Self-Perceived Burden Scale (SPBS)]. Further assessments included patient satisfaction and incidence of complications, both in the pre- and post-interventional phases.

Results

Post-intervention, the observation group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the control group, as evidenced by diminished NIHSS and SPBS scores and elevated BI metrics. Moreover, SAS and SDS scores in both groups manifested a decline post-intervention; however, the decrement was statistically more pronounced in the observation group (P < 0.05). Similarly, all dimensions of GQOLI-74 showed an upward trend in both cohorts, yet the increase was significantly more substantial in the observation group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the observation group exhibited a reduced frequency of complications coupled with heightened levels of nursing satisfaction.

Conclusion

The implementation of HQN in the geriatric population afflicted by ACI markedly enhances neurological recuperation, attenuates adverse psychological states, and ameliorates overall quality of life. The intervention is also associated with a diminution in complication rates and an increase in nursing satisfaction, thereby substantiating its clinical utility.
Gamma-secretase modulators: a promising route for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Nordvall Gunnar , Lundkvist Johan , Sandin Johan
Published: October 2023

Recent clinical data with three therapeutic anti-Aβ antibodies have demonstrated that removal of Aβ-amyloid plaques in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) can attenuate disease progression. This ground-breaking progress in AD medicine has validated both the amyloid cascade hypothesis and Aβ-amyloid as therapeutic targets. These results also strongly support therapeutic approaches that aim to reduce the production of amyloidogenic Aβ to prevent the formation of Aβ-pathology. One such strategy, so-called gamma-secretase modulators (GSM), has been thoroughly explored in preclinical settings but has yet to be fully tested in clinical trials. Recent scientific progress has shed new light on the role of Aβ in Alzheimer's disease and suggests that GSMs exhibit specific pharmacological features that hold great promise for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In this short review, we discuss the data that support why it is important to continue to progress in this class of compounds.
Radiation induces acute and subacute vascular regression in a three-dimensional microvasculature model
Authors: Choi Dong-Hee , Oh Dongwoo , Na Kyuhwan , Kim Hyunho , Choi Dongjin , Jung Yong Hun , Ahn Jinchul , Kim Jaehoon , Kim Chun-Ho , Chung Seok
Published: October 2023

Radiation treatment is one of the most frequently used therapies in patients with cancer, employed in approximately half of all patients. However, the use of radiation therapy is limited by acute or chronic adverse effects and the failure to consider the tumor microenvironment. Blood vessels substantially contribute to radiation responses in both normal and tumor tissues. The present study employed a three-dimensional (3D) microvasculature-on-a-chip that mimics physiological blood vessels to determine the effect of radiation on blood vessels. This model represents radiation-induced pathophysiological effects on blood vessels in terms of cellular damage and structural and functional changes. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), apoptosis, and cell viability indicate cellular damage. Radiation-induced damage leads to a reduction in vascular structures, such as vascular area, branch length, branch number, junction number, and branch diameter; this phenomenon occurs in the mature vascular network and during neovascularization. Additionally, vasculature regression was demonstrated by staining the basement membrane and microfilaments. Radiation exposure could increase the blockage and permeability of the vascular network, indicating that radiation alters the function of blood vessels. Radiation suppressed blood vessel recovery and induced a loss of angiogenic ability, resulting in a network of irradiated vessels that failed to recover, deteriorating gradually. These findings demonstrate that this model is valuable for assessing radiation-induced vascular dysfunction and acute and chronic effects and can potentially improve radiotherapy efficiency.
The impact of clinical and translational research on the quality of life during the metastatic colorectal cancer patient journey
Authors: Rodriguez Castells Marta , Baraibar Iosune , Ros Javier , Saoudi Nadia , Salvà Francesc , García Ariadna , Alcaraz Adriana , Tabernero Josep , Élez Elena
Published: October 2023

The journey of metastatic colorectal cancer patients is complex and challenging, requiring coordination and collaboration between multiple healthcare providers. Understanding patients’ needs, fears, feelings, concerns, and behaviors is essential for providing individualized patient-centered care. In recent years, mCRC patients have experienced improvements in clinical outcomes, from 16 months of overall survival to 32 months, thanks to research. However, there is still room for improvement, and integrating clinical and translational research into routine practice can help patients benefit from treatments and techniques that would not be an option. In the Journey of mCRC patients, living well with cancer and quality of life becomes a priority given the outcomes of the disease. Patient reported outcomes (PRO) and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are becoming therefore new estimands in Oncology. Patient advocates represent important figures in this process by prioritizing issues and research questions; evaluating research designs and the performance of the research; the analysis and interpretation of data; and how results are disseminated. Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards and shared decision-making is essential for designing treatment strategies for individual patients. Quality of Life is often prioritized only when it comes to refractory advanced disease and end-of-life care, but it has to be integrated from the beginning, as the emotional impact of diagnosis leads to a vulnerable situation where patients’ needs and preferences can be easily overseen. First-line treatment will be chosen among more treatment options than subsequent lines, with longer progression-free survival and a bigger impact on the outcomes. Practicing patient-centered care and optimizing first-line treatment for colorectal cancer patients requires a comprehensive understanding of patient experience and treatment outcomes, which can guide clinical practice and inform regulatory decisions for the benefit of patients.
Comparison of adjuvant nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine, S-1 and gemcitabine chemotherapy for resectable pancreatic cancer: a real-world study
Authors: Li Haorui , Guo Yu , Sun Xugang , Lu Yang , Chang Shaofei , Wang Xiuchao , Gao Song , Gao Chuntao , Zhao Tiansuo
Published: October 2023

Background

A survival benefit has been seen for both adjuvant nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (AG) and S-1 chemotherapy compared to gemcitabine (GEM) for resectable pancreatic cancer in the APACT (2019) and JASPAC01 trials (2016), respectively. However, supporting evidence regarding the effectiveness of AG or S-1 compared to gemcitabine in real-world clinical practice remains lacking.

Methods

Our study included all 246 pancreatic cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment and received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with AG, S-1, or GEM except for those meeting exclusion criteria (R2 resection, neoadjuvant therapy, or synchronous malignancy) at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from June 2015 to July 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Results

In total, 246 patients were included, of whom 54(22%) received adjuvant AG, 103(41%) received adjuvant S-1, and 89(37%) received adjuvant GEM. Adjuvant S-1 was associated with a prolonged OS compared to GEM (median OS S-1 vs GEM: 27.0 vs 20.0 months; HR: 0.65, P = .016) and a significantly prolonged RFS compared to GEM (median RFS S-1 vs GEM: 20.0 vs 8.2 months; HR: 0.58, P = .002). After adjusting for known prognostic factors in multivariate Cox regression analysis, this survival benefit persists and is consistent in most subgroups in our subgroup analysis. However, no statistically significant differences in OS or RFS were seen between patients treated with AG and patients treated with GEM.

Conclusions

In this retrospective real-world study, adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy was associated with improved survival compared to GEM while no differences in OS or RFS were observed for AG compared to GEM.
Maternal vitamin D in pregnancy and infant's gut microbiota: a systematic review
Authors: Molani-Gol Roghayeh , Rafraf Maryam
Published: October 2023

Background

An infant's gut microbiome plays a vital role in their health, and various factors can impact their gut microbiota composition. This review aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding the associations between maternal prenatal supplementation with vitamin D and the composition of infants' gut microbiota.

Method

A comprehensive systematic search was done on Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases without date restrictions until December 2022 using relevant keywords. All relevant original articles in English were eligible for the present review.

Results

Eight articles (two mice, three randomized clinical trials, and three cohort studies) were included in this review. The included mice studies reported that maternal prenatal vitamin D supplementation significantly affects the offspring's gut microbiome composition (such as enhancing the abundance of colonic Bacteroides). Moreover, the included cohort studies revealed a significant association between maternal supplementation with vitamin D during pregnancy and the infant's gut microbiome. However, one-third of clinical trials indicated that vitamin D levels in utero could influence the colonization of the microbial community in the infant's gut.

Conclusion

The findings of this review revealed that maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was linked to an infant's gut microbiome and could impact their gut microbiota composition. However, more studies are warranted to confirm these results.
Volume overload impedes the maturation of sarcomeres and T-tubules in the right atria: a potential cause of atrial arrhythmia following delayed atrial septal defect closure
Authors: Dong Zhuoya , Chen Dian , Zheng Sixie , Wang Zheng , Li Debao , Xiao Yingying , Sun Sijuan , Ye Lincai , Qiu Lisheng , Hu Yuqing , Hong Haifa
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Adult patients with atrial septal defects (ASD), the most common form of adult congenital heart disease, often die of arrhythmias, and the immaturity of cardiomyocytes contributes significantly to arrhythmias. ASD typically induces a left-to-right shunt, which then leads to the right atrium (RA) volume overload (VO). Whether or not VO contributes to RA cardiomyocyte immaturity and thereby causes arrhythmias in adult patients with ASD remains unclear.

Methods: Here, we developed the first neonatal RA VO mouse model by creating a fistula between the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta on postnatal day 7. RA VO was confirmed by increases in the mean flow velocity, mean pressure gradient, and velocity time integral across the tricuspid valve, and an increase in the RA diameter and RA area middle section.

Results: We found that VO decreased the regularity and length of sarcomeres, and decreased the T-element density, regularity, and index of integrity of T-tubules in RA cardiomyocytes, suggesting that the two most important maturation hallmarks (sarcomere and T-tubules) of RA cardiomyocytes were impaired by VO. Accordingly, the calcium handling capacity of cardiomyocytes from postnatal day 21 (P21) RA was decreased by VO. VO caused a significant elongation of the PR interval. The expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) was decreased in RA VO. Moreover, gene ontology (GO) analysis of the downregulated genes in RA demonstrated that there was an abundance of enriched terms associated with sarcomeres and T-tubules exposed to VO. The results were further verified by qRT-PCR.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the first neonatal RA VO mouse model was developed; furthermore, using this neonatal RA VO mouse model, we revealed that VO impeded RA sarcomere and T-tubule maturation, which may be the underlying causes of atrial arrhythmias in adult patients with ASD.
In silico structural-functional characterization of three differentially expressed resistance gene analogs identified in Dalbergia sissoo against dieback disease reveals their role in immune response regulation
Authors: Ijaz Siddra , Ul Haq Imran , Razzaq Hafiza Arooj , Nasir Bukhtawer , Ali Hayssam M. , Kaur Sukhwinder
Published: October 2023

Plant immunity includes enemy recognition, signal transduction, and defensive response against pathogens. We experimented to identify the genes that contribute resistance against dieback disease to Dalbergia sissoo, an economically important timber tree. In this study, we investigated the role of three differentially expressed genes identified in the dieback-induced transcriptome in Dalbergia sissoo. The transcriptome was probed using DOP-rtPCR analysis. The identified RGAs were characterized in silico as the contributors of disease resistance that switch on under dieback stress. Their predicted fingerprints revealed involvement in stress response. Ds-DbRCaG-02-Rga.a, Ds-DbRCaG-04-Rga.b, and Ds-DbRCaG-06-Rga.c showed structural homology with the Transthyretin-52 domain, EAL associated YkuI_C domain, and Src homology-3 domain respectively, which are the attributes of signaling proteins possessing a role in regulating immune responses in plants. Based on in-silico structural and functional characterization, they were predicted to have a role in immune response regulation in D. sissoo.
Modeling the spatial-spectral characteristics of plants for nutrient status identification using hyperspectral data and deep learning methods
Authors: Okyere Frank Gyan , Cudjoe Daniel , Sadeghi-Tehran Pouria , Virlet Nicolas , Riche Andrew B. , Castle March , Greche Latifa , Simms Daniel , Mhada Manal , Mohareb Fady , Hawkesford Malcolm John
Published: October 2023

Sustainable fertilizer management in precision agriculture is essential for both economic and environmental reasons. To effectively manage fertilizer input, various methods are employed to monitor and track plant nutrient status. One such method is hyperspectral imaging, which has been on the rise in recent times. It is a remote sensing tool used to monitor plant physiological changes in response to environmental conditions and nutrient availability. However, conventional hyperspectral processing mainly focuses on either the spectral or spatial information of plants. This study aims to develop a hybrid convolution neural network (CNN) capable of simultaneously extracting spatial and spectral information from quinoa and cowpea plants to identify their nutrient status at different growth stages. To achieve this, a nutrient experiment with four treatments (high and low levels of nitrogen and phosphorus) was conducted in a glasshouse. A hybrid CNN model comprising a 3D CNN (extracts joint spectral-spatial information) and a 2D CNN (for abstract spatial information extraction) was proposed. Three pre-processing techniques, including second-order derivative, standard normal variate, and linear discriminant analysis, were applied to selected regions of interest within the plant spectral hypercube. Together with the raw data, these datasets were used as inputs to train the proposed model. This was done to assess the impact of different pre-processing techniques on hyperspectral-based nutrient phenotyping. The performance of the proposed model was compared with a 3D CNN, a 2D CNN, and a Hybrid Spectral Network (HybridSN) model. Effective wavebands were selected from the best-performing dataset using a greedy stepwise-based correlation feature selection (CFS) technique. The selected wavebands were then used to retrain the models to identify the nutrient status at five selected plant growth stages. From the results, the proposed hybrid model achieved a classification accuracy of over 94% on the test dataset, demonstrating its potential for identifying nitrogen and phosphorus status in cowpea and quinoa at different growth stages.