bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desert Island Papers
Authors: Baker Kate , Dalley Jeffrey W.
Published: September 2023

This article presents edited highlights from a special session at the BNA International Festival of Neuroscience held in Brighton in April 2023. The session involved Desert Island Disc–style interviews between early career researchers and established investigators, discussing papers that influenced their neuroscience careers.
Surface Characterization and Tribology Behavior of PMMA Processed by Excimer Laser
Authors: Qin Dong , Guo Juan , Liang Ming , Chen Ling , He Weimin
Published: September 2023

Polyoxymethylene methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used in ophthalmic biomaterials. Misuse of PMMA in extreme environments is likely to damage the ocular surface and intraocular structures. The surface characterization and tribological behavior of PMMA processed using an excimer laser were investigated in this study by contrasting different lubrication conditions and friction cycles. The results show that the roughness of the material surface increases with laser processing, which changes its physical structure. Under lubrication, the laser-treated PMMA exhibits better hydrophilicity, especially during the use of eye drops. No obvious relationship exists between the laser-processing time and friction behavior. However, the laser treatment may contribute to the formation of friction and wear mechanisms of PMMA materials. Laser-treated PMMA in saline solution exhibits better abrasive resistance by showing a lower wear rate than that in eye drops, although it has a higher friction coefficient. In this study, the different friction stages in laser-treated PMMA were clarified under two lubrication conditions. The wear rates of the laser-treated PMMA were found to decrease with the number of cycles, and the friction coefficient has a similar variation tendency. The wear behavior of the laser-treated PMMA is dominated by the main abrasive wear and secondary transferred film formation. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development and application of ophthalmic biomaterials in complex environments by examining the material surface interface behavior and wear mechanism after laser processing using PMMA as the research matrix.
Prediction of plant secondary metabolic pathways using deep transfer learning
Authors: Bao Han , Zhao Jinhui , Zhao Xinjie , Zhao Chunxia , Lu Xin , Xu Guowang
Published: September 2023

Background

Plant secondary metabolites are highly valued for their applications in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, flavors, and aesthetics. It is of great importance to elucidate plant secondary metabolic pathways due to their crucial roles in biological processes during plant growth and development. However, understanding plant biosynthesis and degradation pathways remains a challenge due to the lack of sufficient information in current databases. To address this issue, we proposed a transfer learning approach using a pre-trained hybrid deep learning architecture that combines Graph Transformer and convolutional neural network (GTC) to predict plant metabolic pathways.

Results

GTC provides comprehensive molecular representation by extracting both structural features from the molecular graph and textual information from the SMILES string. GTC is pre-trained on the KEGG datasets to acquire general features, followed by fine-tuning on plant-derived datasets. Four metrics were chosen for model performance evaluation. The results show that GTC outperforms six other models, including three previously reported machine learning models, on the KEGG dataset. GTC yields an accuracy of 96.75%, precision of 85.14%, recall of 83.03%, and F1_score of 84.06%. Furthermore, an ablation study confirms the indispensability of all the components of the hybrid GTC model. Transfer learning is then employed to leverage the shared knowledge acquired from the KEGG metabolic pathways. As a result, the transferred GTC exhibits outstanding accuracy in predicting plant secondary metabolic pathways with an average accuracy of 98.30% in fivefold cross-validation and 97.82% on the final test. In addition, GTC is employed to classify natural products. It achieves a perfect accuracy score of 100.00% for alkaloids, while the lowest accuracy score of 98.42% for shikimates and phenylpropanoids.

Conclusions

The proposed GTC effectively captures molecular features, and achieves high performance in classifying KEGG metabolic pathways and predicting plant secondary metabolic pathways via transfer learning. Furthermore, GTC demonstrates its generalization ability by accurately classifying natural products. A user-friendly executable program has been developed, which only requires the input of the SMILES string of the query compound in a graphical interface.
Integrated omic profiling of the medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus under submerged conditions
Authors: Hao Jinghua , Wang Xiaoli , Shi Yanhua , Li Lingjun , Chu Jinxin , Li Junjie , Lin Weiping , Yu Tao , Hou Dianhai
Published: September 2023

Background

The Inonotus obliquus mushroom, a wondrous fungus boasting edible and medicinal qualities, has been widely used as a folk medicine and shown to have many potential pharmacological secondary metabolites. The purpose of this study was to supply a global landscape of genome-based integrated omic analysis of the fungus under lab-growth conditions.

Results

This study presented a genome with high accuracy and completeness using the Pacbio Sequel II third-generation sequencing method. The de novo assembled fungal genome was 36.13 Mb, and contained 8352 predicted protein-coding genes, of which 365 carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme)-coding genes and 19 biosynthetic gene clusters (BCGs) for secondary metabolites were identified. Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed a global view of differential metabolic change between seed and fermentation culture, and demonstrated positive correlations between transcription and expression levels of 157 differentially expressed genes involved in the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids, secondary metabolites, antioxidant and immune responses. Facilitated by the widely targeted metabolomic approach, a total of 307 secondary substances were identified and quantified, with a significant increase in the production of antioxidant polyphenols.

Conclusion

This study provided the comprehensive analysis of the fungus Inonotus obliquus, and supplied fundamental information for further screening of promising target metabolites and exploring the link between the genome and metabolites.
Identification of copy number variation in Tibetan sheep using whole genome resequencing reveals evidence of genomic selection
Authors: Shi Huibin , Li Taotao , Su Manchun , Wang Huihui , Li Qiao , Lang Xia , Ma Youji
Published: September 2023

Background

Copy number variation (CNV) is an important source of structural variation in the mammalian genome. CNV assays present a new method to explore the genomic diversity of environmental adaptations in animals and plants and genes associated with complex traits. In this study, the genome-wide CNV distribution characteristics of 20 Tibetan sheep from two breeds (10 Oula sheep and 10 Panou sheep) were analysed using whole-genome resequencing to investigate the variation in the genomic structure of Tibetan sheep during breeding.

Results

CNVs were detected using CNVnator, and the overlapping regions of CNVs between individual sheep were combined. Among them, a total of 60,429 CNV events were detected between the indigenous sheep breed (Oula) and the synthetic sheep breed (Panou). After merging the overlapping CNVs, 4927 CNV regions (CNVRs) were finally obtained. Of these, 4559 CNVRs were shared by two breeds, and there were 368 differential CNVRs. Deletion events have a higher percentage of occurrences than duplication events. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the shared CNVRs were significantly enriched in 163 GO terms and 62 KEGG pathways, which were mainly associated with organ development, neural regulation, immune regulation, digestion and metabolism. In addition, 140 QTLs overlapped with some of the CNVRs at more than 1 kb, such as average daily gain QTL, body weight QTL, and total lambs born QTL. Many of the CNV-overlapping genes such as PPP3CA, SSTR1 and FASN, overlap with the average daily weight gain and carcass weight QTL regions. Moreover, VST analysis showed that XIRP2, ABCB1, CA1, ASPA and EEF2 differed significantly between the synthetic breed and local sheep breed. The duplication of the ABCB1 gene may be closely related to adaptation to the plateau environment in Panou sheep, which deserves further study. Additionally, cluster analysis, based on all individuals, showed that the CNV clustering could be divided into two origins, indicating that some Tibetan sheep CNVs are likely to arise independently in different populations and contribute to population differences.

Conclusions

Collectively, we demonstrated the genome-wide distribution characteristics of CNVs in Panou sheep by whole genome resequencing. The results provides a valuable genetic variation resource and help to understand the genetic characteristics of Tibetan sheep. This study also provides useful information for the improvement and breeding of Tibetan sheep in the future.
Profile and potential bioactivity of the miRNome and metabolome expressed in Malva sylvestris L. leaf and flower
Authors: Villani Valentina , Di Marco Gabriele , Iacovelli Federico , Pietrucci Daniele , Canini Antonella , Gismondi Angelo
Published: September 2023

Malva sylvestris L. (common mallow) is a plant species widely used in phytotherapy and ethnobotanical practices since time immemorial. Characterizing the components of this herb might promote a better comprehension of its biological effects on the human body but also favour the identification of the molecular processes that occur in the plant tissues. Thus, in the present contribution, the scientific knowledge about the metabolomic profile of the common mallow was expanded. In particular, the phytocomplex of leaves and flowers from this botanical species and the extraction capacity of different concentrations of ethanol (i.e., 95%, 70%, 50%, and 0%; v/v in ddH2O) for it were investigated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic approaches. In detail, 95% ethanol extracts showed the worst capacity in isolating total phenols and flavonoids, while all the hydroalcoholic samples revealed a specific ability in purifying the anthocyanins. HPLC–DAD system detected and quantified 20 phenolic secondary metabolites, whose concentration in the several extracts depended on their own chemical nature and the percentage of ethanol used in the preparation. In addition, the stability of the purified phytochemicals after resuspension in pure ddH2O was also proved, considering a potential employment of them in biological/medical studies which include in vitro and in vivo experiments on mammalian models. Here, for the first time, the expressed miRNome in M. sylvestris was also defined by Next Generation Sequencing, revealing the presence of 33 microRNAs (miRNAs), 10 typical for leaves and 2 for flowers. Then, both plant and human putative mRNA targets for the detected miRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics analyses, with the aim to clarify the possible role of these small nucleic acids in the common mallow plant tissues and to try to understand if they could exert a potential cross-kingdom regulatory activity on the human health. Surprisingly, our investigations revealed that 19 miRNAs out of 33 were putatively able to modulate, in the plant cells, the expression of various chromosome scaffold proteins. In parallel, we found, in the human transcriptome, a total of 383 mRNAs involved in 5 fundamental mammalian cellular processes (i.e., apoptosis, senescence, cell-cycle, oxidative stress, and invasiveness) that theoretically could be bound and regulated by M. sylvestris miRNAs. The evidence collected in this work would suggest that the beneficial properties of the use of M. sylvestris, documented by the folk medicine, are probably linked to their content of miRNAs and not only to the action of phytochemicals (e.g., anthocyanins). This would open new perspectives about the possibility to develop gene therapies based on miRNAs isolated from medicinal plants, including M. sylvestris.
Study on the impact of exogenously applied methyl jasmonate concentrations on Solanum lycopersicum under low temperature stress
Authors: Gul Nadia , Masoodi Khalid Z , Ramazan Salika , Mir Javid I , Aslam Saima
Published: September 2023

Background

To decipher the capability of Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) in resisting cold stress in Solanum lycopersicum assessment regarding various physiological parameters in response to diverse doses of MeJA was done. Low temperature (LT) were given to the plants with MeJA (J1C, J2C, J3C) or without MeJA (LT) application. MeJA in the form of foliar spray was given before stress, during stress and after stress. Three concentrations of MeJA were used under normal and LT stress conditions that includes of J1 (0.5 µM), J2 (10 µM), and J3 (15 µM).

Results

Oxidative stress, growth characteristics, stress tolerance parameters, antioxidant response and photosynthetic parameters were investigated. In our current study we observed that oxidative stress markers declined by MeJA supplementation under cold stress conditions. MeJA boosted antioxidant enzyme activity along with photosynthetic parameters. The best concentration of MeJA was J2 based on results obtained. This is the first study related to MeJA best dose screening in Solanum lycopersicum under LT stress conditions.

Conclusion

The LT stress in the Solanum lycopersicum plant was reduced by MeJA. The adverse consequences of LT stress can be significantly attenuated by the J2 concentration of MeJA. So, the optimal concentration of MeJA supplied exogenously to LT stressed Solanum lycopersicum can be a smart strategy to mitigate harmful impact of LT stress on detox system and overall growth of plant.
Outcomes and associated factors of traumatic brain injury among adult patients treated in Amhara regional state comprehensive specialized hospitals
Authors: G/Michael Solomon , Terefe Bewuketu , Asfaw Marye Getnet , Liyew Bikis
Published: September 2023

Background

Globally, traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability which affects more than 69 million individuals a year.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the outcome and associated factors of traumatic brain injury among adult patients treated in Amhara regional state comprehensive specialized hospitals.

Method

Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from January 1, 2018, to December 30, 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used and a checklist was used to extract data between March 15 and April 15, 2021. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis after being checked for consistency. Associated variables with outcomes of traumatic brain injury were determined by a binary logistic regression model. The degree of association was interpreted by using AOR and a 95% confidence interval with ap-value less than or equal to 0.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant.

Result

In this study road traffic injury was the most frequent cause of traumatic brain injuries among adult patients, accounting for 181 (37.5%), followed by assault, accounting for 117 (24.2%) which affects adult age groups. One-third of the participant had a moderate Glasgow coma scale of 174(36%). Only 128(26.8%) patients arrived within one hour. One hundred sixty, 160 (33.1%) of patients had a mild traumatic brain injury, whereas, 149(36%) of patients had a severe traumatic brain injury. Regarding computerized tomography scans findings, the hematoma was the most common (n = 163, 33.7%). Ninety-one, 91(18.8%) of participants had cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea, and, 92(19%) were diagnosed with a positive battle sign. The overall prevalence of unfavorable outcomes after traumatic brain injury was found to be 35.2% (95%CI (30.8–39.1). Having additional Injury, hypoxia, time to hospital presentation after 24 h, severe Glasgow Coma Scale, moderate Glasgow Coma Scale, tachypnea, bradypnea, and cerebrospinal fluid Othorrhea, were factors associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Conclusion and recommendation

In this study, the overall unfavorable outcome was experienced by about four out of every 10 victims of traumatic brain injury. Time of arrival > 24 h, low Glasgow coma scale, additional injury, Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea, abnormal respiration, and hypoxia were significant predictors of unfavorable outcomes. To reduce the adverse effects of traumatic brain injury in adults, it is therefore desirable to guarantee safe road traffic flow and improve health care services.
E-scooter-related orthopedic injuries and the treatments applied: are these scooters a new means of transportation or a new source of trauma?
Authors: İğrek Servet , Ulusoy İbrahim
Published: September 2023

Introduction

E-scooters have become increasingly popular in Turkey due to easy accessibility. In parallel with this, the number of e-scooter-related injuries has increased gradually. The aim of this study was to determine the types of e-scooter-related orthopedic injuries, to evaluate hospitalization and surgical treatments, and to investigate the loss of work of patients and the burden incurred by the healthcare system.

Materials and methods

This retrospective multicentre study included all orthopaedic referrals, who were admitted to two major trauma departments in Diyarbakır from January 2022 to July 2022. Patient data were analyzed, including demographic characteristics, injury pattern, types of injury and subsequent treatment.

Results

In a total of 62 patients, 105 orthopaedic injuries were identified, comprising 72.5% males and 27.5% females, with a median age of 34.21 years. Fifty-six (90.3%) patients were riders, and six were pedestrians. All associated e-scooters were rented. There were 44 fractures (41.9% of the total recorded injuries) including 8 (12.9%) open fractures. Surgery was required by 32 patients (51.6%) and 35 (56.4%) required hospital admission leading to hospitalization of 3.7 days on average. The average job loss of working patients after injury was determined as 2.4 months. Helmet use was detected in 6.4% of the e-scooter users, but no other protective equipment was detected in any of the patients. Furthermore, 19,3% of the patients had a blood alcohol level of > 10 mg/dl.

Conclusions

The injuries that may result from an e-scooter accident can have long-term hospitalization and long-term job loss in the community. This imposes a significant financial burden on the national healthcare system and adversely affects public health. There is a need for precautions to be implemented such as infrastructure organisation, increased awareness of motor vehicle riders and e-scooter riders, and increased enforcement of rule compliance including not using e scooters after alcohol consumption and the use of protective equipment.
Serum liver fibrosis markers predict hepatic decompensation in compensated cirrhosis
Authors: Chen Qingling , Mei Ling , Zhong Rui , Han Ping , Wen Jun , Han Xu , Zhai Lu , Zhao Lili , Li Jia
Published: September 2023

Background and aim

The literature is sparse on the association between serum liver fibrosis markers and the development of hepatic decompensation in patients with compensated cirrhosis. We aimed to assessed whether the serum liver fibrosis markers are predictive of the occurrence of hepatic decompensation.

Methods

We ascertained 688 cirrhotic patients with varying etiologies, between December 2015 to December 2019. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen IV (CIV), and N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen (PIIINP) levels were measured at enrollment. All subjects were followed for at least 6 months for occurrence of hepatic decompensation. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of hepatic decompensation during follow-up.

Results

During a median follow-up of 22.0 (13.0–32.0) months, decompensation occurred in 69 (10.0%) patients. Multivariate analysis indicated that higher LN (HR: 1.008, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.002–1.014, P = 0.011) and CIV (HR: 1.004, 95% CI: 1.001–1.007, P = 0.003) levels were independently associated with hepatic decompensation. Furthermore, patients in the tertile 2 and tertile 3 groups for CIV levels had HRs of 4.787 (1.419, 16.152) (P = 0.012) and 5.153 (1.508, 17.604) (P = 0.009), respectively, for occurrence of decompensation event compared with those in the tertile 1 group.

Conclusion

Serum liver fibrosis markers, particularly in CIV, appeared to be reliable biomarkers of disease progression and liver decompensation in patients with compensated cirrhosis with varying etiologies.
Predictive value of lesion morphology in rectal cancer based on MRI before surgery
Authors: Lv Baohua , Cheng Xiaojuan , Xie Yuanzhong , Cheng Yanling , Yang Zhenghan , Wang Zhenchang , Jin Erhu
Published: September 2023

Objective

To explore the relationship of MRI morphology of primary rectal cancer with extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), metastasis and local recurrence.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 153 patients with rectal cancer. Imaging factors and histopathological index including nodular projection (NP), cord sign (CS) at primary tumor margin, irregular nodules (IN) of mesorectum, MRI-detected peritoneal reflection invasion (PRI), range of rectal wall invasion (RRWI), patterns and length of tumor growth, maximal extramural depth (EMD), histologically confirmed local node involvement (hLN), MRI T stage, MRI N stage, MRI-detected extramural vascular invasion (mEMVI) and histologically confirmed extramural vascular invasion (hEMVI) were evaluated. Determining the relationship between imaging factors and hEMVI, synchronous metastasis and local recurrence by univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression, and a nomogram validated internally via Bootstrap self-sampling was constructed based on the latter.

Results

Thirty-eight cases of hEMVI, fourteen cases of synchronous metastasis and ten cases of local recurrence were observed among 52 NP cases. There were 50 cases of mEMVI with moderate consistency with hEMVI (Kappa = 0.614). NP, CS, EMD and mEMVI showed statistically significant differences in the negative and positive groups of hEMVI, synchronous metastasis, and local recurrence. Compared to patients with local mass growth, the rectal tumor with circular infiltration had been found to be at higher risk of synchronous metastasis and local recurrence (P < 0.05). NP and IN remained as significant predictors for hEMVI, and mEMVI was a predictor for synchronous metastasis, while PRI and mEMVI were predictors for local recurrences. The nomogram for predicting hEMVI demonstrated a C-index of 0.868, sensitivity of 86.0%, specificity of 79.6%, and accuracy of 81.7%.

Conclusion

NP, CS, IN, large EMD, mEMVI, and circular infiltration are significantly associated with several adverse prognostic indicators. The nomogram based on NP has good predictive performance for preoperative EMVI. mEMVI is a risk factor for synchronous metastasis. PRI and mEMVI are risk factors for local recurrence.
Patient-reported outcome measures in functional dyspepsia: a systematic review and COSMIN analysis
Authors: Wang Xinai , Fei Yan , Li Wenjing , Liu Hao , Xiao Hongling , Wu Yaxuan , Wang Chenqi
Published: September 2023

Background

Functional dyspepsia (FD) as a type of disorders of brain-gut interaction (DBGI), patient self-reporting of its symptoms becomes an important component of clinical outcome assessment. We performed a systematic review using Consensus Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines to identify the best available patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of FD.

Methods

The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We searched four databases with no date limit, looking for previously confirmed PROMs for evaluating FD symptoms. An overall rating was then assigned based upon COSMIN guidelines, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the level of evidence for psychometric properties of included PROMs.

Results

Thirty articles covering outcome indicators of 24 patient reports were included. The Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale (LPDS) showed adequate content validity and moderate quality evidence of adequate internal consistency to generate an A recommendation.

Conclusion

LPDS is currently the most recommended PROM for patient self-reported FD symptoms. However, it fails to assess two important areas of cross-cultural validity/ measurement invariance and measurement error. Future research can be continuously improved on this basis.
Clinical features and prognosis of acute-on-chronic liver failure in patients with recompensated cirrhosis
Authors: Yuan Haixia , Cao Yingying , Yu Zhenjun , Huang Yue , Liu Fang , Gao Yanying , Qiu Shaotian , Han Tao
Published: September 2023

Background

There are few studies on acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in patients with recompensated cirrhosis. This study was aimed to investigate the clinical features of ACLF patients with recompensated cirrhosis.

Methods

A total of 461 ACLF patients were enrolled and divided into three groups: compensated, recompensated, and decompensated cirrhosis with ACLF. The baseline clinical data and 1-year survival rates were compared among the three groups.

Results

Compared with the decompensated group, in the recompensated group, the levels of hemoglobin, albumin, and serum sodium were significantly higher and the white blood cell count, international normalized ratio, and incidence of respiratory failure were significantly lower; there were no evident differences in other organ failures. The proportion of patients with ACLF grade 3 and 1-year survival rates significantly differed between the two groups. Conversely, compared with the compensated group, in the recompensated group, the platelet and total bilirubin levels were significantly lower and the proportion of patients with ACLF grade 1 was significantly higher. However, other clinical indicators or 1-year survival rates did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Conclusions

Compared with patients who developed ACLF with decompensated cirrhosis, those who developed ACLF with recompensated cirrhosis had a less severe condition, lower incidence of respiratory failure, and better 1-year prognosis. However, the baseline clinical features and prognosis were similar between ACLF patients with recompensated and compensated cirrhosis.

Trial registration

Chinese clinical trials registry: ChiCTR1900021539.
Dialister pneumosintes and aortic graft infection – a case report
Authors: Patel Rachel , Chong Debra S. T. , Guy Alison J. , Kennedy Matthew
Published: September 2023

Background

Dialister pneumosintes is an anaerobic, Gram negative bacillus, found in the human oral cavity and associated with periodontitis. It has also been isolated from gastric mucosa and stool samples. Recent case reports implicate D. pneumosintes in local infection such as dental root canals, sinusitis, Lemierres syndrome and brain abscesses, as well as distal infections of the liver and lung through haematogenous spread.

Case presentation

We present a novel case of aortic graft infection and aortoenteric fistula (AEF) in a 75 year old Caucasian male, associated with D. pneumosintes bacteraemia. Microbiological evaluation of septic emboli in the lower limbs revealed other gastrointestinal flora. This suggests either AEF leading to graft infection and subsequent distal emboli and bacteraemia, or a dental origin of infection which seeded to the graft, resulting in AEF and systemic infection. To our knowledge this is the first report of D. pneumosintes associated aortic graft infection. The patient underwent surgical explantation, oversew of the aorta and placement of extra-anatomical bypass graft in conjunction with antimicrobial therapy, making a good recovery with discharge home after a 35-day hospital admission.

Conclusion

We report a case of Dialister pneumosintes bacteraemia associated with aortic graft infection. To our knowledge, vascular graft-associated infection with D. pneumosintes has not been reported before.
Sexually transmitted infections and associated risk factors among the transgender population of Pakistan
Authors: Javed Hasnain , Bano Abida , Fatima Warda , Khan Rimsha , Akhtar Asma
Published: September 2023

Background

Transgender (TG) people are key drivers for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) all over the world. There is substantial evidence that STIs are associated with an increased likelihood of risky sexual behavior however little is known about the prevalence of STIs (HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis) among HIV infected transgender population in Pakistan.

Methods

The current study investigated the seroprevalence of four STIs and associated socio-demographic risk factors among TGs of Punjab, Pakistan from July 2019 to June 2021. The samples were tested serologically and final confirmation was done through PCR for HIV, HBV, and HCV.

Results

A total of 1,562 transgenders cross-sectional descriptive records of the Punjab AIDS Control Program (PACP) were reviewed during the period from July 2019 to June 2021. The serological results evidenced that 533 (34.1%) had one pathogen, 309 (19.8%) had two or more (multiple) infections. The most predominant mono-infection among the transgender population was Syphilis 324 (20.7%) followed by HCV 114 (7.3%), HIV 69 (4.4%), and HBV 26 (1.7%). The highest proportions of Infections were found in TG residing in urban areas (68.6%) as compared to rural areas (31.4%). The seropositivity of all STIs was predominantly increased in Sex worker TGs i-e 55%, 46.5%, 38.5%, and 41.8% in HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis respectively. Among 280 HIV-infected Transgender, 177 (63.2%) had Syphilis co-infections. While 87 (31%) and 47 (16.8%) HIV-infected individuals had HC and HBV co-infection respectively.

Conclusion

Transgender is neglected population group in society. All STIs were predominantly common among sex worker transgenders, Illiterate educational groups, and TGs residing in urban areas. There is a need to spread awareness about STIs, preventive strategies, and facilitation to health care programs in this high-risk population group.
Analysis of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota in patients with different severity in sepsis
Authors: Liu Yanli , Guo Yanan , Hu Su , Wang Yujun , Zhang Lijuan , Yu Li , Geng Feng
Published: September 2023

Background

The gastrointestinal tract contains a massive microbiota, and targeting the gut could be a potential intervention for sepsis. However, the interaction between sepsis and the intestinal microbiota is defined as an “incompletely understood bidirectional relationship”.

Methods

This retrospective observational cohort study investigated the fecal microbiota of sepsis patients admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Central Hospital of Wuhan, China, from May 2019 to January 2020. 14 septic patients were divided into the non-severe group and the severe group according to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score. Herein, fecal samples were serially collected on admission, the third, fourth, and fifth days, and ICU discharge. The fecal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and its correlation with clinical parameters was evaluated.

Results

Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were dominant phyla at ICU admission, and fecal biodiversity was not significantly different between the non-severe group (APACHE II < 15) and the severe group (APACHE II > 15). However, the diversity of the gut microbiota was significantly lower at ICU discharge than that at ICU admission with the extension of treatment time. Further significant difference flora analysis (LEfSe) showed that the genera Veillonella and Ruminococcus were the most discriminant biomarkers at ICU admission in non-severe and severe patients, respectively, while Enterococcus was the most discriminant biomarker at ICU discharge in all septic patients. Of note, liver function tests, including ALT, AST, TBIL, and DBIL correlated with the prevalence of various bacterial genera.

Conclusions

The diversity of the gut microbiota in patients with sepsis decreases dramatically during ICU stay, and there are distinct dynamic changes in gut microbiota among patients with different severity in sepsis.
Dietary sodium restriction reduces blood pressure in patients with treatment resistant hypertension
Authors: Hornstrup Bodil G. , Hoffmann-Petersen Nikolai , Lauridsen Thomas Guldager , Bech Jesper N.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Patients with treatment resistant hypertension (TRH) are at particular risk of cardiovascular disease. Life style modification, including sodium restriction, is an important part of the treatment of these patients. We aimed to analyse if self-performed dietary sodium restriction could be implemented in patients with TRH and to evaluate the effect of this intervention on blood pressure (BP). Moreover, we aimed to examine if mechanisms involving nitric oxide, body water content and BNP, renal function and handling of sodium were involved in the effect on nocturnal and 24-h BP. Also, measurement of erythrocyte sodium sensitivity was included as a possible predictor for the effect of sodium restriction on BP levels.

Patients and methods

TRH patients were included for this interventional four week study: two weeks on usual diet and two weeks on self-performed sodium restricted diet with supplementary handed out sodium-free bread. At the end of each period, 24-h BP and 24-h urine collections (sodium, potassium, ENaC) were performed, blood samples (BNP, NOx, salt blood test) were drawn, and bio impedance measurements were made.

Results

Fifteen patients, 11 males, with a mean age of 59 years were included. After sodium restriction, urinary sodium excretion decreased from 186 (70) to 91 [51] mmol/24-h, and all but one reduced sodium excretion. Nocturnal and 24-h systolic BP were significantly reduced (− 8 and − 10 mmHg, respectively, p < 0.05). NOx increased, BNP and extracellular water content decreased, all significantly. Change in NOx correlated to the change in 24-h systolic BP. BP response after sodium restriction was not related to sodium sensitivity examined by salt blood test.

Conclusion

Self-performed dietary sodium restriction was feasible in a population of patients with TRH, and BP was significantly reduced. Increased NOx synthesis may be involved in the BP lowering effect of sodium restriction.

Trial registration

The study was registered in Clinical trials with ID: NCT06022133.
Effect of direct surgical treatment in pregnancy-related uterine arteriovenous malformation
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Cui Suhua , Mao Zhonghao , Hao Yiping , Tan Yilin , Ban Yanli , Cui Baoxia
Published: September 2023

Background

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (UAVM) is a relatively rare but potentially life-threatening situations abnormal vascular connections between the uterine arterial and venous systems. Lack of recognized guidelines and clinic experience, there is a lot of clinic problems about diagnosis and treatment. By analyzing the clinical data of patients with pregnancy-related UAVM, we aim to confirm the safety of direct surgeries and the benefit of pretreatment (uterine artery embolization or medical therapy) before surgery, and to explore more optimal therapies for patients with pregnancy-related UAVM.

Methods

A total of 106 patients in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2011 to December 2021 diagnosed of pregnancy-related UAVM were involved in this study. Depending on whether preoperative intervention was performed, the patients were divided into direct surgery group and pretreatment group (uterine artery embolization or medical management). Clinical characteristics, operative related factors and prognosis were analyzed.

Results

The most common symptom of pregnancy-related UAVM was vaginal bleeding (82.5%), which could also be accompanied by abdominal pain. Pretreatments (uterine artery embolization or medical therapy) had no obvious benefit to the subsequent surgeries, but increased the hospital stay and hospital cost. Direct surgery group had satisfactory success rate and prognosis compared to pretreatment group.

Conclusion

For pregnancy-related UAVM, direct surgery has good effects and high safety with shorter hospital stays and less hospital cost. What is more, without uterine artery embolization and other medical therapy, patients could remain better fertility in future.
Effect of intensive nutrition education and counseling on hemoglobin level of pregnant women in East Shoa zone, Ethiopia: randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wakwoya Ermias Bekele , Belachew Tefera , Girma Tsinuel
Published: September 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of intensive nutrition education and counseling on hemoglobin level during pregnancy.

Methods and materials

The study was a one year two-arm parallel design cluster randomized controlled trial in East Shoa zone, Ethiopia. End-line data were collected from 163 intervention and 163 control group pregnant women. The intervention was a three consecutive trimester based counseling sessions using health belief model, weekly regular SMS sent on mobile phone containing core message and providing leaflet with food menu of Iron rich diet. The women in the control group received routine nutrition education from facilities. After adjusting for potential confounders, a linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the intervention effect.

Results

There was a significant change in both hemoglobin level and proportion of anemia in the intervention group. The mean hemoglobin level within intervention group before and after intervention was (12.08± 1.15, 12.53± 1.18) with p value of 0.01. The prevalence of anemia among intervention group declined from 14.7 % at the baseline to 9.2% after intervention. At the end of the trial, women in the intervention group had significantly better hemoglobin level than women in the control group (β = 0.50, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The intervention was effective in improving the hemoglobin level and consumption of iron rich diet among pregnant women. Therefore, employing trimester based counseling by using HBM constructs and regular reminding messages have to be provided to pregnant women as part of the regular antenatal care service.
Development and feasibility of a theory-guided and evidence-based physical activity intervention in pregnant women with high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus: a pilot clinical trial
Authors: Yang Xiao , Xiang Zhixuan , Zhang Ji , Song Yingli , Guo Erfeng , Zhang Ruixing , Chen Xin , Chen Lu , Gao Lingling
Published: September 2023

Background

Physical activity has been utilized as an effective strategy to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, most pregnant women with high risk for GDM did not achieve the recommended physical activity level. Furthermore, relevant physical activity protocols have varied without theory-guided and evidence-based tailored to pregnant women with high risk for GDM. This study aimed to develop and pilot test a theory-guided and evidence-based physical activity intervention protocol for pregnant women with high risk for GDM.

Methods

The study design was guided by the Medical Research Council Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Intervention (the MRC framework). The preliminary protocol for physical activity intervention was developed based on self-efficacy theory, research evidence identified from systematic reviews and clinic trials, stakeholder engagement, context, and economic considerations. The preliminary intervention protocol was validated through a content validity study by an expert panel of 10 experts. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

Results

The validity of the preliminary intervention protocol was excellent as consensus was achieved. The final 13 sessions of self-efficacy enhancing physical activity intervention protocol were developed, including knowledge education, exercise clinic visits and video, and group discussions with face-to-face and online blended sessions. In the feasibility study, 34 pregnant women with high risk for GDM were randomized for the intervention (n = 17) or the control group (n = 17). The recruitment and retention rates were 82.9% and 58.9%, respectively. Women in the intervention group had a lower incidence of GDM (26.7% vs. 36.5%) than the control group (P>0.05). All participants were satisfied with the intervention and agreed that the intervention was helpful.

Conclusions

The developed self-efficacy-enhancing physical activity intervention is a feasible and acceptable intervention for enhancing physical activity among pregnant women with high risk for GDM and is ready to be tested in a more extensive RCT study.

Trial registration

The study was registered on 4 February 2022 (ChiCTR2200056355) by the Chinese Clini Trial Registry (CHiCTR).
YTHDF3as a prognostic predictive biomarker of thyroid cancer and its correlation with immune infiltration
Authors: Zhang Yihan , Chen Ying , Chen Ruihua , Zhou Hong , Lin Yi , Li Bingxin , Song Huaidong , Zhou Guoqiang , Dong Mei , Xu Huanbai
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies, and its morbidity continues to rise. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, an epigenetic modification, is an important regulator of gene expression in TC. Therefore, it’s worth finding the characteristics and predictive value of the m6A RNA methylation regulators in thyroid cancer (TC).

Method

RNA-seq data of TC was downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to screen out the differential expressed regulators. The absolute contraction selection operator (Lasso) Cox regression was used to construct the risk model of m6A methylation regulators. The predictive value of the risk scoring model was evaluated by Kaplan Meier (K-M) analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The underlying mechanism of m6A methylation regulators in TC was predicted by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Further validation was performed by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and q-PCR. The correlation between risk-related gene and immune infiltration was evaluated by Tumour Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER).

Results

IGF2BP2, YTHDF1 and YTHDF3 were screened out as strong independent prognostic factors of TC. Then a risk score model was established to further screen the predictors. Finally, according to the results of overall survival (OS) and clinical characteristics of TC, YTHDF3 was screened out as a potential predictor. Meanwhile, IHC and qPCR confirmed that YTHDF3 was expressed differential in TC. The expression of YTHDF3 was positively associated with the infiltration level of CD4+ T cells and macrophages. It was strongly correlated with a variety of immune markers in TC.

Conclusion

We confirmed that YTHDF3 can be used as a potential prognostic biomarker of TC. It not only plays a decisive role in the initiation and development of TC, but also provides a new perspective for understanding the modification of m6A RNA in TC.
Sleep disturbances and the risk of lung cancer: a meta-epidemiological study
Authors: Zhou Tong , Wang Zichen , Qiao Chenxi , Wang Shuo , Hu Shuaihang , Wang Xinyan , Ma Xiumei , Wang Dandan , Li Jinglei , Li Zheng , Hou Wei
Published: September 2023

Background

The relationship between sleep disturbances and lung cancer is complex and bidirectional. This meta-epidemiological study aimed to explore the potential association between sleep disruption and the risk of pulmonary cancer.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to retrieve relevant studies. We employed the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale to assess the quality of the observational studies. Stata 17.0 was used to synthesize and conduct a meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used funnel plot analysis and Egger’s regression test to evaluate potential publication bias.

Results

A total of 11 studies were included with 469,691 participants. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from moderate to high. Compared with 7–8 h of sleep time, short sleep duration was associated with a 13% higher lung cancer risk [OR, 1.13; 95%CI: 1.02–1.25; I2 = 67.6%; P = 0.018] and long sleep duration with a 22% higher risk [OR, 1.22; 95%CI: 1.12–1.33; I2 = 6.9%; P < 0.001]. Insomnia symptoms [OR, 1.11; 95%CI: 1.07–1.16; I2 = 0%; P < 0.001] and evening chronotype [OR, 1.15; 95%CI: 1.05–1.26; P = 0.002] were all related to a higher risk of lung cancer. Egger’s test revealed no publication bias for sleep duration (P = 0.13).

Discussion

This systematic review is the first one which observes positive correction between sleep disturbances and the incidence of lung cancer. While the plausible mechanism is not clear, it is hypothesized that the association of short sleep duration and lung cancer mainly mediated by melatonin secretion and the immune-inflammatory balance. Further studies are needed to examine whether other risk factors, such as age, occupation, cumulative effect of sleep disturbances might mediate the relationship between sleep disturbances and lung cancer risk.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that insufficient and excessive sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and evening chronotype were significantly predictive of an increased risk of lung cancer. This finding underscores the need to account for sleep disturbances as an independent risk factor for evaluating susceptibility to lung cancer.

Trial registration

CRD42023405351.
Topical injection of sclerosant to treat cheek subcutaneous venous malformation resulting in blindness: a case report
Authors: Cui Lihong , Zhang Xinyue , Xu Li
Published: September 2023

Loss of vision after topical injection of sclerosant is a rare and uncommon complication. We describe a case with vision loss following the facial injections of physician-compounded (PCP) foam sclerotherapy which was created by room air. A 3-year-old boy underwent injection of 5ml polidocanol foamed with room air to treat the venous malformation on the cheek near the left orbit. The boy experienced the whole facial swelling on day 2 after the third injection, especially involving the left side, the visual acuity in the left eye was counting fingers at 30 cm and the swelling reduced at 7 days later after referral. Fundus examination on day 15 revealed hemorrhage inferior to the optic disc and fluorescein angiography revealed blocked fluorescein. The OCT on day 15 showed the edema of the nerve fiber layer beside the fovea. The patient’s hearing was also impaired. PCP foam sclerotherapy with room air produced in typical concentrations, preparations as well as volumes always causes vision loss among children. Continued evaluation on the effects of product, gas, volume, and patient age identify optimal approaches will avoid the toxicity and side-effects caused by facial foam sclerotherapy.