bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-cell genomics identifies distinct B1 cell developmental pathways and reveals aging-related changes in the B-cell receptor repertoire
Authors: Luo Yao , Wang Jing , Li Kairui , Li Mingxia , Xu Shasha , Liu Xingjie , Zhang Zhiwei , Xu Xiang , Zhang Yu , Pan Jiawei , Liu Pengtao , Gao Shaorong , Miao Zhichao , Yu Yong
Published: May 2022

Background

B1 cells are self-renewing innate-like B lymphocytes that provide the first line of defense against pathogens. B1 cells primarily reside in the peritoneal cavity and are known to originate from various fetal tissues, yet their developmental pathways and the mechanisms underlying maintenance of B1 cells throughout adulthood remain unclear.

Results

We performed high-throughput single-cell analysis of the transcriptomes and B-cell receptor repertoires of peritoneal B cells of neonates, young adults, and elderly mice. Gene expression analysis of 31,718 peritoneal B cells showed that the neonate peritoneal cavity contained many B1 progenitors, and neonate B cell specific clustering revealed two trajectories of peritoneal B1 cell development, including pre-BCR dependent and pre-BCR independent pathways. We also detected profound age-related changes in B1 cell transcriptomes: clear difference in senescence genetic program was evident in differentially aged B1 cells, and we found an example that a B1 subset only present in the oldest mice was marked by expression of the fatty-acid receptor CD36. We also performed antibody gene sequencing of 15,967 peritoneal B cells from the three age groups and discovered that B1 cell aging was associated with clonal expansion and two B1 cell clones expanded in the aged mice had the same CDR-H3 sequence (AGDYDGYWYFDV) as a pathogenically linked cell type from a recent study of an atherosclerosis mouse model.

Conclusions

Beyond offering an unprecedent data resource to explore the cell-to-cell variation in B cells, our study has revealed that B1 precursor subsets are present in the neonate peritoneal cavity and dissected the developmental pathway of the precursor cells. Besides, this study has found the expression of CD36 on the B1 cells in the aged mice. And the single-cell B-cell receptor sequencing reveals B1 cell aging is associated with clonal expansion.
Association of immediate reinsertion of new catheters with subsequent mortality among patients with suspected catheter infection: a cohort study
Authors: Zhong Yiyue , Deng Liehua , Zhou Limin , Liao Shaoling , Yue Liqun , Wen Shi Wu , Xie Rihua , Lu Yuezhen , Zhang Liangqing , Tang Jing , Wu Jiayuan
Published: May 2022

Background

Central venous catheter (CVC) insertion complications are a prevalent and important problem in the intensive care unit (ICU), and source control by immediate catheter removal is considered urgent in patients with septic shock suspected to be caused by catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). We sought to determine the impact of immediate reinsertion of a new catheter (IRINC) on mortality among patients after CVC removal for suspected CRBSI.

Methods

A propensity score-matched cohort of patients with suspected CRBSI who underwent IRINC or no IRINC in a 32-bed ICU in a university hospital in China from January 2009 through April 2021. Catheter tip culture and clinical symptoms were used to identify patients with suspected CRBSI. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to analyse 30-day mortality before and after propensity score matching, and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality in the matched cohort were estimated with Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

In total, 1,238 patients who had a CVC removed due to suspected CRBSI were identified. Among these patients, 877 (70.8%) underwent IRINC, and 361 (29.2%) did not. Among 682 propensity score-matched patients, IRINC was associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality (HR, 1.481; 95% CI, 1.028 to 2.134) after multivariable, multilevel adjustment. Kaplan–Meier analysis found that IRINC was associated with the risk of mortality both before matching (P = 0.00096) and after matching (P = 0.018). A competing risk analysis confirmed the results of the propensity score-matched analysis. The attributable risk associated with bloodstream infection was not significantly different (HR, 1.081; 95% CI 0.964 to 1.213) among patients with suspected CRBSI in terms of 30-day mortality compared with that associated with other infections.

Conclusions

In this cohort study, IRINC was associated with higher 30-day mortality compared to delayed CVC or no CVC among patients with suspected CRBSI. A large-sample randomized controlled trial is needed to define the best management for CVC in cases of suspected CRBSI because IRINC may also be associated with noninfectious complications.

Trial registration This study was registered with the China Clinical Trials Registry (URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx) under the following registration number: ChiCTR1900022175.
Intrusion detection system combined enhanced random forest with SMOTE algorithm
Authors: Wu Tao , Fan Honghui , Zhu Hongjin , You Congzhe , Zhou Hongyan , Huang Xianzhen
Published: May 2022

Network security is subject to malicious attacks from multiple sources, and intrusion detection systems play a key role in maintaining network security. During the training of intrusion detection models, the detection results generally have relatively large false detection rates due to the shortage of training data caused by data imbalance. To address the existing sample imbalance problem, this paper proposes a network intrusion detection algorithm based on the enhanced random forest and synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) algorithm. First, the method used a hybrid algorithm combining the K-means clustering algorithm with the SMOTE sampling algorithm to increase the number of minor samples and thus achieved a balanced dataset, by which the sample features of minor samples could be learned more effectively. Second, preliminary prediction results were obtained by using enhanced random forest, and then the similarity matrix of network attacks was used to correct the prediction results of voting processing by analyzing the type of network attacks. In this paper, the performance was tested using the NSL-KDD dataset with a classification accuracy of 99.72% on the training set and 78.47% on the test set. Compared with other related papers, our method has some improvement in the classification accuracy of detection.
Method for QOE monitoring and increasing in cellular networks based on QOE-to-QOS mapping using spline approximation
Authors: Al-Azzeh Jamil S. , Odarchenko Roman , Abakumova Anastasiia , Bondar Serhii
Published: May 2022

The current level of development of the cellular services market, qualitative changes in the means and methods of providing services, and the increased volume and diversity of information circulating in cellular networks have evoked the need for service quality assessment system improvement. To maintain competitiveness, the main efforts of operators are aimed at improving quality and increasing the service life of subscribers in the network by ensuring the required level of customer satisfaction in high-quality services through a system of organizational–technical and socioeconomic measures to bring the achieved level of quality-of-service (QoS) provision in accordance with the existing, emerging, or projected needs of subscribers. To achieve improved QoS provision, a functional relationship between network parameters has been established: The impact of key performance indicators on a key quality indicator through the use of cubic Hermitian splines (CHS) has been determined. The use of splines, as a signal model, can significantly improve the quality of signal processing due to the continuity of values and partial derivatives in the joints of spline gluing. CHS are characterized by calculation simplicity, as they provide high-speed computing, which, in turn, is important for real-time work when processing large data sets. Experimentally, it was shown that the use of splines allows for the ability to calculate statistical estimates of the required parameters of spline approximations, but also their confidence intervals, which increases the accuracy and probability of further calculations and is a distinct advantage of this approach. Also, the methods of service quality management through machine learning have been improved, which are effective tools for modeling integrated indicators of communication services quality control, monitoring their condition in terms of final copies of services, determining the causes of degradation, and reporting. It monitors the service performance provided by the cellular operator. Finally, the method checks the readiness and availability of services, detects network nodes through which quality degradation occurs, collects various quality metrics, and compares them with pre-installed quality indicators.
On the domain of generalized mean in Nakano sequence space, and its prequasi ideal with some applications
Authors: Bakery Awad A. , El Dewaik M. H.
Published: May 2022

Some topological and geometric behavior of the space of all sequences whose generalized mean transforms are in Nakano sequence space, the multiplication mappings acting on it, and the eigenvalue distribution of mappings ideal generated by this space ands-numbers are discussed. We construct the existence of a fixed point of Kannan contraction mapping on these spaces. Several numerical experiments are presented to illustrate our results. Moreover, some successful applications to the existence of solutions of nonlinear difference equations are explained. The strength here is that the current results are constructed under flexible setups given by controlling the weight and power of these spaces.
Self-adaptive subgradient extragradient-type methods for solving variational inequalities
Authors: Ma Beibei , Wang Wanyu
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we introduce two subgradient extragradient-type algorithms for solving variational inequality problems in the real Hilbert space. The first one can be applied when the mapping f is strongly pseudomonotone (not monotone) and Lipschitz continuous. The first algorithm only needs two projections, where the first projection onto closed convex set C and the second projection onto a half-space $C_{k}$

C
k

. The strong convergence theorem is also established. The second algorithm is relaxed and self-adaptive; that is, at each iteration, calculating two projections onto some half-spaces and the step size can be selected in some adaptive ways. Under the assumption that f is monotone and Lipschitz continuous, a weak convergence theorem is provided. Finally, we provide numerical experiments to show the efficiency and advantage of the proposed algorithms.
Illness perceptions, self-care practices, and glycemic control among type 2 diabetes patients in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: Ngetich Elisha , Pateekhum Chanapat , Hashmi Ahmar , Nadal Iliatha Papachristou , Pinyopornpanish Kanokporn , English Mike , Quansri Orawan , Wichit Nutchanart , Kinra Sanjay , Angkurawaranon Chaisiri
Published: May 2022

Background

Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) is a fundamental aspect of diabetes care, but no standard program exists in Thailand. Understanding current patterns of illness perceptions (concerns) and self-management practices among patients with diabetes in Thailand is vital to develop culturally tailored DSME programs. This study sought to explore the association between reported self-management practices and diabetes perceptions on glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Specifically, the study examined whether the association between illness perceptions and diabetes control was mediated by self-management.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among type 2 diabetes patients on outpatient care and follow-up in four districts hospitals in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Illness perceptions was measured by the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (BIPQ). Self-management practices were measured by Summary Diabetes Self-Care activities (SDSCA). For illness perceptions and self-management practices, patients were classified into two groups, high level and low level based on the median values. Univariate and multivariable analyses were done to determine the association between the determinant factors: self-care practices and illness perceptions and the outcome of interest- good glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%).

Results

Of the 200 participants recruited into the study, 180 completed the questionnaire. Only 35% of participants had good glycemic control (HBA1c < 7.0). Both illness perceptions and self-management practices were independently linked to glycemic control. Among illness perceptions, a sense of personal control was strongly associated with good glycemic control (p = 0.01). For self-management, appropriate diet (p = 0.03) and medication adherence (p = 0.05) were associated with good glycemic control. After adjustments for key baseline characteristics, patients with high levels of illness perceptions were less likely to achieve glycemic control (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.14, p = 0.11) and those with high level of self-management were more likely to achieve glycemic control (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.30, p = 0.04). The effect size for illness perception attenuated when further adjusted for levels of self-management (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.96, p = 0.75) while the effect size for self-management and glycemic control did not materially change (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.02, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Illness perceptions and self-management practices are associated with glycemic control. Future culturally tailored interventions in Thailand aimed at improving glycemic should focus on personal control, improving diet and treatment adherence as these are more likely to help improve diabetes control as demonstrated in this study.
Evaluation of the European Health Information Training Programme (EHITP): results from InfAct Joint Action
Authors: Gómez Verónica , Sousa-Uva Mafalda , Roquette Rita , Garcia Ana Cristina , Matias Dias Carlos
Published: May 2022

Background

The InfAct (Information for Action) is a Joint Action of the European Commission’s 3rd Health Programme with the main goal to build an infrastructure of a health information system for a stronger European Union and to strengthen its core elements.

The InfAct Joint Action was developed along 36 months and structured in 10 work packages.

Portugal co-led the Work Package 6 (WP6) of this project, which included the development of the proposal of a flagship capacity building programme - the European Health Information Training Programme - and its evaluation. The evaluation objectives included: to evaluate the adequacy of the training programme to the health information needs in the European Member States; to identify possible changes regarding the participants selection process, the training activities and the pedagogical project; and to contribute to the understanding of the potential of the programme to add to available offers in learning on the topics of Public Health information, on the capacity building and behavioural changes in Public Health activities which can be attributed to the course, and of the potential of the programme to contribute to the alignment of health information criteria and procedures between the European Member States.

Methods

The evaluation process was developed using an observational descriptive study design using a mixed methodological approach with both document analysis and primary data collected by questionnaires and interviews analysis. Mixed quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis were used.

Results

The proposal of the European Health Information Training Programme seemed adequate to the formative needs and capacities in line with the work performed by the InfAct project. In what concerns about its main thematic areas, it was also aligned with the areas identified in the previous formative needs and capacities mapping. The participants selection process proposed seemed, in general, adequate. The potential of the European Health Information Training Programme proposal to learning, capacity building and behavioral changes at work attributable to the course was considered positive, as well as the potential to the alignment of health information criteria and procedures between European Union Member States.

Discussion

In general, we found high consistency between the results obtained from data collected by the techniques used. However, different suggestions for improvement were outlined by the evaluation study population.

Conclusions

The proposed European Health Information Training Programme was a dynamic, flexible, sustainable formative programme in health information and focused on reducing inequalities.
No increase of device associated infections in German intensive care units during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
Authors: Geffers Christine , Schwab Frank , Behnke Michael , Gastmeier Petra
Published: May 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic may have had a substantial impact on the incidence of device-associated healthcare-associated infections (HAI), in particular in intensive care units (ICU). A significant increase of HAI was reported by US hospitals when comparing incidence rates from 2019 and 2020. The objective of this study was to investigate the development of the most relevant device-associated HAI in German ICUs during the year 2020 as compared to 2019.

Methods

We utilized the data of the ICU component of the German National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections (KISS = Krankenhaus-Infektions-Surveillance-System) for the period 2019–2020. We focused on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), ventilator-associated lower respiratory infections (VALRTI) and bloodstream infections associated with the use of Extracorporeal-Life-Support-Systems (ECLSABSI). Device use was defined as the number device days per 100 patient days; device-associated infection rates as the number of device-associated infections per 1000 device days. To compare the pooled means between the years and quarters we calculated rate ratios of device-associated infection rates with 95% confidence intervals by Poisson regression models.

Results

The number of participating ICUs in the surveillance system decreased from 982 in 2019 to 921 in 2020 (6.2%). Device utilization rates increased significantly for central lines and ventilator use. VALRTI rates and CAUTI rates decreased in 2020 compared with 2019, however, no increase was shown for CLABSI or ECLSABSI. This result was also confirmed when the corresponding quarters per year were analyzed.

Conclusions

The lack of an increase in device-associated healthcare associated infections (HAI) in German ICUs may be due to the lower overall incidence of COVID-19 cases in Germany in 2020 compared with US, to a very high availability of ICU beds per 100,000 inhabitants compared with many other countries, and a change in the ICU patient mix due to numerous elective procedures that were postponed during the first two waves. The primary reason seems to be that only 7% of all ICU patients in Germany in 2020 were COVID-19 patients.
Association of vitamin D receptor gene rs739837 polymorphism with type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus susceptibility: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zeng Qiaoli , Zou Dehua , Wei Yue , Ouyang Yingguang , Lao Zhaohang , Guo Runmin
Published: May 2022

Background

Increasing evidence shows that genetic variants of genes in the diabetes mellitus (DM) metabolic pathway, such as the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene rs739837 polymorphism, increase the risk of DM susceptibility. However, the findings have been inconsistent. The present study was performed to evaluate the association of VDR gene rs739837 and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk.

Methods

A comprehensive meta-analysis and a subgroup analysis were conducted to assess the association between VDR rs739837 and T2DM or GDM among five genetic models (dominant, recessive, homozygote heterozygote, and allele models) using a fixed or random model.

Results

The meta-analysis included 9 studies. In the overall analysis, the results showed that VDR rs739837 was associated with an increased risk of T2DM or GDM in the allele model (T vs. G: OR = 1.088; 95% CI: 1.018–1.163; P = 0.012) and dominant model (TT + GT vs. GG: OR = 1.095; 95% CI: 1.001–1.197; P = 0.047). In the subgroup analysis, VDR rs739837 was also associated with an increased risk of T2DM in the allele model (T vs. G: OR = 1.159; 95% CI: 1.055–1.273; P = 0.002) and dominant model (TT + GT vs. GG: OR = 1.198; 95% CI: 1.048–1.370; P = 0.008). However, VDR rs739837 was not associated with GDM.

Conclusions

Significant associations were found between the VDR rs739837 polymorphism and T2DM susceptibility, but not with GDM.
Pharmacological agents for the prevention of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity
Authors: Mirjalili Mahtabalsadat , Mirzaei Ehsan , Vazin Afsaneh
Published: May 2022

Background

Colistin is a polymyxin antibiotic which has been used for treatment of Gram-negative infections, but it was withdrawn due to its nephrotoxicity. However, colistin has gained its popularity in recent years due to the reemergence of multidrug resistant Gram-negative infections and drug-induced toxicity is considered as the main obstacle for using this valuable antibiotic.

Results

In total, 30 articles, including 29 animal studies and one clinical trial were included in this study. These compounds, including aged black garlic extract, albumin fragments, alpha lipoic acid, astaxanthin, baicalein, chrysin, cilastatin, colchicine, curcumin, cytochrome c, dexmedetomidine, gelofusine, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract, hesperidin, luteolin, lycopene, melatonin, methionine, N-acetylcysteine, silymarin, taurine, vitamin C, and vitamin E exhibited beneficial effects in most of the published works.

Conclusions

In this review, the authors have attempted to review the available literature on the use of several compounds for prevention or attenuation of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. Most of the studied compounds were potent antioxidants, and it seems that using antioxidants concomitantly can have a protective effect during the colistin exposure.
The effect of high-yielding variety on rice yield, farm income and household nutrition: evidence from rural Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mahbubur , Connor Jeffery D
Published: May 2022

Background

High-yielding variety (HYV) seed breeding has been one key approach to improving agricultural productivity and to reduce global hunger and poverty. This paper explores the causal relationship between high-yielding rice variety, rice productivity, farm income and household nutrition. A challenge with evaluating the impact of changes such as crop varieties on yield is self-selection and endogeneity. This article robustly identifies marginal input contributions, correcting for self-selection potential by applying matched Difference in Difference method.

Results

We found that the farms that switched from local to HYV, experienced around 35% higher yield and 76% higher profit from Aman rice than non-adopting farms. More calorie intake, more protein and especially higher fruit and vegetable intake meant less calorie poverty for adopted households.

Conclusion

This recent evidence suggests improved seed remains a high potential return investment for regions of the world where smallholder farming and malnutrition is a wider phenomenon.
Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in a UK student sample
Authors: Catling J. C. , Bayley A. , Begum Z. , Wardzinski C. , Wood A.
Published: May 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions placed upon society have had a profound impact on both physical and mental health, particularly for young people.

Aims

The current study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on student mental health.

Method

Four hundred and thirty four first year Undergraduate students completed a battery of self-report questionnaires (PHQ-P, GAD-7 and SAS-SV) to assess for depression, anxiety and mobile phone addiction respectively with data being collected over a 2 year period. The data from each year was compared (216 and 218 students respectively).

Results

A MANOVA revealed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on self-reported levels of depression, anxiety and smartphone addiction—which all significantly increased from the 2020 to the 2021 group. The percentage of students who had a score which warranted a classification of clinical depression increased from 30 to 44%, and for anxiety increased from 22 to 27%—those students who showed a comorbidity across the two rose from 12 to 21%. Smartphone addiction levels rose from 39 to 50%. Correlational analysis showed a significant relationship between Smartphone usage and depression and anxiety.

Conclusions

This research suggests that COVID-19 has had a major impact upon student mental health, and smartphone addiction. The importance of identifying predictive factors of depression and anxiety is emphasised, and suggestions for intervention are discussed.
White and non-White Australian mental health care practitioners’ desirable responding, cultural competence, and racial/ethnic attitudes
Authors: Dune Tinashe , Chimoriya Ritesh , Caputi Peter , MacPhail Catherine , Olcon Katarzyna , Ogbeide Anita
Published: May 2022

Background

Racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity in Australia is rapidly increasing. Although Indigenous Australians account for only approximately 3.5% of the country’s population, over 50% of Australians were born overseas or have at least one migrant parent. Migration accounts for over 60% of Australia’s population growth, with migration from Asia, Sub-Saharan African and the Americas increasing by 500% in the last decade. Little is known about Australian mental health care practitioners’ attitudes toward this diversity and their level of cultural competence.

Aim

Given the relationship between practitioner cultural competence and the mental health outcomes of non-White clients, this study aimed to identify factors that influence non-White and White practitioners’ cultural competence.

Methods

An online questionnaire was completed by 139 Australian mental health practitioners. The measures included: the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR); the Multicultural Counselling Inventory (MCI); and the Color-blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants’ demographic characteristics. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted to identify between-group differences (non-White compared to White practitioners) in cultural competence and racial and ethnic blindness. Correlation analyses were conducted to determine the association between participants’ gender or age and cultural competence. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict cultural competence.

Results

The study demonstrates that non-White mental health practitioners are more culturally aware and have better multicultural counselling relationships with non-White people than their White counterparts. Higher MCI total scores (measuring cultural competence) were associated with older age, greater attendance of cultural competence-related trainings and increased awareness of general and pervasive racial and/or ethnic discrimination. Practitioners with higher MCI total scores were also likely to think more highly of themselves (e.g., have higher self-deceptive positive enhancement scores on the BIDR) than those with lower MCI total scores.

Conclusion

The findings highlight that the current one-size-fits-all and skills-development approach to cultural competence training ignores the significant role that practitioner diversity and differences play. The recommendations from this study can inform clinical educators and supervisors about the importance of continuing professional development relevant to practitioners’ age, racial/ethnic background and practitioner engagement with prior cultural competence training.
Volunteers’ concerns about facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Authors: Efthimiou Themis Nikolas , Hanel Paul H. P. , Korb Sebastian
Published: May 2022

Facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is the application of an electrical current to the skin to induce muscle contractions and has enormous potential for basic research and clinical intervention in psychology and neuroscience. Because the technique remains largely unknown, and the prospect of receiving electricity to the face can be daunting, willingness to receive facial NMES is likely to be low and gender differences might exist in the amount of concern for the sensation of pain and skin burns. We investigated these questions in 182 healthy participants. The likelihood of taking part (LOTP) in a hypothetical facial NMES study was measured both before and after presenting a detailed vignette about facial NMES including its risks. Results showed that LOTP was generally high and that participants remained more likely to participate than not to, despite a decrease in LOTP after the detailed vignette. LOTP was significantly predicted by participants’ previous knowledge about electrical stimulation and their tendency not to worry about the sensations of pain, and it was inversely related to concerns for burns and loss of muscle control. Fear of pain was also inversely related to LOTP, but its effect was mediated by the other concerns. We conclude that willingness to receive facial NMES is generally high across individuals in the studied age range (18–45) and that it is particularly important to reassure participants about facial NMES safety regarding burns and loss of muscle control. The findings are relevant for scholars considering using facial NMES in the laboratory.
Acute bone damage through liver-bone axis induced by thioacetamide in rats
Authors: Jin Xiaoli , Li Yang , Li Jianghua , Cheng Linyan , Yao Yetao , Shen Hao , Wang Bili , Ren Jun , Ying Hang , Xu Jian
Published: May 2022

Background

Thioacetamide (TAA) is used in various fields, such as synthetic drugs, organic chemical synthesis, and materials chemistry. TAA is mainly used to establish animal liver injury models and other organ damage models to explore their mechanisms for helping patients with liver disease. Liver damage can lead to abnormal expression of some enzymes in the serum, so we detected the appropriate enzyme levels in the serum of SD rats to verify the damage of TAA to the liver. More importantly, TAA caused bone damage is barely understood. Therefore, our research aims to establish a rat model reflecting the acute bone damage injury caused by TAA.

Methods

The SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline (0.9%) or TAA (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) for 1 month (once the other day). After the last intraperitoneal injection, serum samples from rats were used for biochemical tests. Masson staining is used to detect liver damage, and micro-CT is used to detect the changes in bone. Moreover, the three-point bending experiment was used to detect the force range of the hind limbs of SD rats.

Results

Compared with the control group, after the intraperitoneal injection of TAA, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid (UA), total bile acid (TBA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), carbamide (UREA) and creatinine (CREA) rose sharply, while the levels of serum content of total protein (TP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) were severely reduced. After TAA administration, collagen fibers were deposited and liver fibrosis was obvious. Micro-CT results showed that the bone surface, tissue surface, bone volume, and tissue volume of rats with an intraperitoneal injection of TAA were significantly reduced. In addition, the bones of rats with an intraperitoneal injection of TAA can resist less pressure and are prone to fractures.

Conclusions

TAA can cause liver damage in SD rats, which is explained by the changes in serum biochemical indicators and the deposition of liver collagen. More importantly, TAA can reduce bone mineral density and increase the separation of bone trabeculae in SD rats, and finally lead to bone injury. This suggests that TAA may become an ideal model to investigate abnormal bone metabolism after liver injury.
Integrated proteomic analysis of low-grade gliomas reveals contributions of 1p-19q co-deletion to oligodendroglioma
Authors: Wong Derek , Lee Tae Hoon , Lum Amy , Tao Valerie Lan , Yip Stephen
Published: May 2022

Diffusely infiltrative low-grade gliomas (LGG) are primary brain tumours that arise predominantly in the cerebral hemispheres of younger adults. LGG can display either astrocytic or oligodendroglial histology and do not express malignant histological features. Vast majority of LGG are unified by IDH mutations. Other genomic features including ATRX as well as copy number status of chromosomes 1p and 19q serve to molecularly segregate this tumor group. Despite the exponential gains in molecular profiling and understanding of LGG, survival rates and treatment options have stagnated over the past few decades with few advancements. In this study, we utilize low grade glioma RNA-seq data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-LGG) and tandem mass-spectrometry on an in-house cohort of 54 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) LGG specimens to investigate the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles across the three molecular subtypes of LGG (Type I: IDH mutant – 1p19q co-deleted, Type II: IDH mutant – 1p19q retained, Type III: IDH wildtype). Within the 3 LGG subtypes, gene expression was driven heavily by IDH mutation and 1p19q co-deletion. In concordance with RNA expression, we were able to identify decreased expressions of proteins coded in 1p19q in Type I LGG. Further proteomic analysis identified 54 subtype specific proteins that were used to classify the three subtypes using a multinomial regression model (AUC = 0.911). Type I LGG were found to have increased protein expression of several metabolic proteins while Type III LGG were found to have increased immune infiltration and inflammation related proteins. Here we present the largest proteomic cohort of LGG and show that proteomic profiles can be successfully analyzed from FFPE tissues. We uncover previously known and novel subtype specific markers that are useful for the proteomic classification of LGG subtypes.
Frontal lobe microglia, neurodegenerative protein accumulation, and cognitive function in people with HIV
Authors: Murray Jacinta , Meloni Gregory , Cortes Etty P. , KimSilva Ariadna , Jacobs Michelle , Ramkissoon Alyssa , Crary John F. , Morgello Susan
Published: May 2022

Microglia are implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathogenesis. In a middle-aged cohort enriched for neuroinflammation, we asked whether microgliosis was related to neocortical amyloid beta (A$$\upbeta$$
β
) deposition and neuronal phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and whether microgliosis predicted cognition. Frontal lobe tissue from 191 individuals autopsied with detectable (HIV-D) and undetectable (HIV-U) HIV infection, and 63 age-matched controls were examined. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to evaluate A$$\upbeta$$
β
plaques and neuronal p-tau, and quantitate microgliosis with markers Iba1, CD163, and CD68 in large regions of cortex. Glia in the A$$\upbeta$$
β
plaque microenvironment were quantitated by immunofluorescence (IF). The relationship of microgliosis to cognition was evaluated. No relationship between A$$\upbeta$$
β
or p-tau accumulation and overall severity of microgliosis was discerned. Individuals with uncontrolled HIV had the greatest microgliosis, but fewer A$$\upbeta$$
β
plaques; they also had higher prevalence of APOE $$\upvarepsilon$$
ε
4 alleles, but died earlier than other groups. HIV group status was the only variable predicting microgliosis over large frontal regions. In contrast, in the A$$\upbeta$$
β
plaque microenvironment, APOE $$\upvarepsilon$$
ε
4 status and sex were dominant predictors of glial infiltrates, with smaller contributions of HIV status. Cognition correlated with large-scale microgliosis in HIV-D, but not HIV-U, individuals. In this autopsy cohort, over large regions of cortex, HIV status predicts microgliosis, whereas in the A$$\upbeta$$
β
plaque microenvironment, traditional risk factors of AD (APOE $$\upvarepsilon$$
ε
4 and sex) are stronger determinants. While microgliosis does not predict neurodegenerative protein deposition, it does predict cognition in HIV-D. Increased neuroinflammation does not initiate amyloid deposition in a younger group with enhanced genetic risk. However, once A$$\upbeta$$
β
deposits are established, APOE $$\upvarepsilon$$
ε
4 predicts increased plaque-associated inflammation.
Effects of fertilizer and waterlogging on the diversity and functioning of the microbial community in greenhouse cultivation soil
Authors: Deng Lina , Fu Lanyin , Zhang Kaixin , Shen Yuxiang , Feng Gongneng , Zhang Li , Li Hongshan , Liu Changqing
Published: May 2022

Background

Greenhouse cultivation is mainly a monoculture system, which leads to severe soil degradation, with significant changes to the structure of the soil microbial community. The present study aimed to determine the effects of fertilizer and waterlogging (WL) on the microbial community of soil that was continuously monocropped with cucumber in a greenhouse for 3 years (2016–2019). Biolog EcoPlates™ and high-throughput sequencing were used to investigate the abundance, structure, and diversity of the soil microbial community.

Results

Compared with the initial total soluble salt content (8.65 g/kg), total soluble salt content after WL significantly decreased to 0.597 g/kg. Compared to control (CK) soil, the abundance of fungal species in the chemical fertilizer plus waterlogging (CFWL)-treated soil increased by 40.5%, while bacterial species abundance in the organic fertilizer plus waterlogging (OFWL)-treated soil increased by 10.7%. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Arthrobacter, Geobacter, and Bacillus was higher in OFWL-treated soil than CFWL-treated soil (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The application of CFWL to greenhouse soil under continuous monoculture produces fungal-dominated soil, whereas OFWL application alone produces bacterial-dominated soil.

Graphical Abstract
Ultra-wide field imaging to assess the optic nerve and retina in Boston type I and II keratoprosthesis patients
Authors: Bloom William R. , Karl Matthew D. , Smith Sarah B. , Shao Yusra F. , Terrell William , Tarabishy Ahmad B. , Hendershot Andrew J. , Kuennen Rebecca A. , Oostra Tyler D. , Mauger Thomas F. , Cebulla Colleen M.
Published: May 2022

Background

The ability to view the posterior segment in keratoprosthesis (Kpro) implanted patients is limited. The purpose of this retrospective, observational study was to investigate the use of ultra-wide field (UWF) scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging and its utility for serial evaluation of the retina and optic nerve in patients with either a Boston type I or II Kpro.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed for patients with a Boston type I or II Kpro seen at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Images were graded for quality by two masked observers on a defined four-point scale (“Poor”, “Fair”, “Good”, or “Very good”) and assessed for visible posterior segment anatomy. Interobserver agreement was described using the Kappa statistic coefficient (κ) with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

A total of 19 eyes from 17 patients were included in this study. Eighteen eyes had a type I Kpro, while one eye had a type II Kpro. UWF imaging from 41 patient visits were reviewed by two observers. Interobserver agreement between the two graders was fair for image quality (κ = 0.36), moderate for visibility of the macula with discernible details (κ = 0.59), moderate for visibility of the anterior retina with discernable details (κ = 0.60), and perfect agreement for visibility of the optic nerve with discernible details (κ = 1.0). In 6 eyes, UWF imaging was performed longitudinally (range 3–9 individual visits), allowing for long-term follow-up (range 3–46 months) of posterior segment clinical pathology.

Conclusions

UWF imaging provides adequate and reliable visualization of the posterior segment in Kpro implanted patients. This imaging modality allowed for noninvasive longitudinal monitoring of retinal and optic nerve disease in this selected patient population.
Synchronous gallbladder metastasis originating from residual gastric cancer: a case report and the review of literature
Authors: Kawamoto Ami , Kimura Koichi , Hirose Kosuke , Izumi Takuma , Taniguchi Daisuke , Yano Hiroko , Kajiwara Yuichiro , Minagawa Ryosuke , Minami Kazuhito , Oshiro Yumi , Nishizaki Takashi
Published: May 2022

Background

Gastric cancer rarely metastasizes to the gallbladder. Furthermore, there has never been a case report of simultaneous gallbladder metastasis from residual gastric cancer. Here, we report a case of synchronous gallbladder metastasis originating from a residual gastric cancer.

Case presentation

A 67-year-old man underwent a follow-up upper endoscopy 18 months after a partial gastrectomy for gastric cancer; an ulcerative lesion was found in the remnant stomach at the gastrojejunal anastomosis. A biopsy revealed gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). A full-body examination revealed no abnormalities other than gallstones in the gallbladder. With a diagnosis of residual gastric cancer (cT2N0M0 cStage I), the patient underwent open total gastrectomy and cholecystectomy. Macroscopic findings of the resected specimen revealed thickening of the gallbladder wall; however, no obvious neoplastic lesions were found on the mucosal surface of the gallbladder. The pathological findings showed that the SRCC had invaded the submucosa of the gastrojejunostomy site with a high degree of lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastases. SRCCs were also found in the lymphatic vessels of the gallbladder wall. These findings suggested the possibility of gallbladder metastasis through lymphatic vessels. The patient and his family members refused postoperative chemotherapy. Ten months after the operation, the patient experienced respiratory failure due to lymphangitis carcinomatosa and died.

Conclusions

At present, it is difficult to determine whether resection of the gallbladder contributes to an improved prognosis of gastric cancer patients. However, reports in such cases demonstrate that gallbladder metastasis could be a poor predictor of prognosis for gastric cancer.
Protocol update for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of exercise rehabilitation for people with postural tachycardia syndrome: the PULSE study
Authors: McGregor Gordon , Evans Becky , Sandhu Harbinder , Simmonds Jane , Joshi Shivam , Devi Gita , Zhupaj Albiona , Holliday Nikki , Pearce Gemma , Patel Chloe , Hee Siew Wan , Powell Richard , Heine Peter , Patel Shilpa , Kavi Lesley , Bruce Julie , Hayat Sajad , Lim Boon , Eftekhari Helen , Panikker Sandeep
Published: May 2022

Background

The PULSE (PostUraL tachycardia Syndrome Exercise) study is a randomised controlled trial assessing the feasibility of conducting a multicentre RCT testing supervised exercise rehabilitation with behavioural and motivational support, compared to best-practice usual care, for people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). The original trial protocol was published in BMC Pilot & Feasibility Studies (accessible at 10.1186/s40814-020-00702-1). The PULSE intervention consists of (1) individual assessment; (2) 12-week, twice-weekly, supervised exercise training; (3) behavioural and motivational support; and (4) guided lifestyle physical activity. The control intervention is best-practice usual care with a single 30-min, one-to-one practitioner appointment, and general advice on safe and effective physical activity.

Sixty-two people (aged 18–60 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of PoTS will be invited to enrol on a feasibility RCT with an embedded qualitative study. The primary outcome will be feasibility; process-related measures will include eligibility, recruitment, randomisation and withdrawal rates, along with indicators of exercise programme adherence and acceptability. Secondary physiological, clinical and health-related outcomes will be assessed. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, here we describe amendments to the trial protocol.

Methods

Restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic meant it was necessary to change the delivery of the PULSE and control interventions. These changes reflected the need to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission in a clinical population, some of whom were at increased risk of contracting the virus and suffering serious illness. The major change was that the originally intended centre-based PULSE and control interventions would now be delivered remotely on-line. Subsequently, there were minor changes to the participant eligibility criteria. These decisions followed an on-line co-creation session with people affected by PoTS, and relevant public and professional stakeholders.

Conclusions

We present an update of the original trial protocol in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. No participants were recruited to the original protocol; thus, results will reflect the on-line delivery of the intervention. PULSE will be the first randomised trial to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive multi-centre RCT testing supervised on-line exercise rehabilitation with behavioural and motivational support, compared to best-practice usual care, for people with PoTS.

Trial registration

ISRCTN45323485 registered on 7 April 2020.
Patient-specific PEEK implants for immediate restoration of temporal fossa after maxillary reconstruction with temporalis muscle flap
Authors: Ali Sherif , Abdel Aziz Omniya , Ahmed Mamdouh
Published: May 2022

Background

Temporal hollowing is a common complication following the rotation of the temporalis muscle that leaves the patient with a cosmetic impairment. Several alloplastic materials have been used to reconstruct the donor site; however, these implants need meticulous adaptation to conform the periphery of the defect and restore the contour of the temporal area. The aim of this study was to assess the use of patient-specific polyetheretherketone (PEEK) temporal implants to prevent temporal hollowing following the use of full temporalis muscle flap for large maxillary defects reconstruction.

Methods

This was a prospective study conducted on eight patients with major maxillary defects indicating the need of reconstruction with full temporalis muscle flap or any lesion indicating major maxillary resection and immediate reconstruction with total temporalis muscle flap. For each patient, a patient-specific PEEK implant was fabricated using virtual planning and milled from PEEK blocks. In the surgical theater, the temporalis muscle was exposed, elevated, and transferred to the maxilla. After the temporalis muscle transfer, PEEK implants were fixed in place to prevent temporal hollowing.

Results

The surgical procedures were uneventful for all patients. The esthetic result was satisfactory with no post-operative complications except in one patient where seroma occurred after 2 weeks and resolved after serial aspiration.

Conclusion

Patient-specific PEEK implant appears to facilitate the surgical procedures eliminate several meticulous steps that are mainly based on the surgeon’s experience.

Trial registration

Clinical trials registration: NCT05240963.