bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Regulation Mechanism of Lipopolysaccharide on Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism of Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: LI L , TANG W , ZHAO M , GONG B , CAO M , LI J
Published: March 2022

The long-term feeding of a high-concentrate diet (the concentrate ratio is greater than 60 %) leads to mammary gland inflammatory response in ruminants and decreased quality in dairy cows and affects the robust development of the dairy industry. The main reason is closely related to elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the body. In this experiment, a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) was used as a model, and LPS at different concentrations (0 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml, 10000 ng/ml) was added to the cells. The cell survival rate, oxidative stress indicators, total lipid droplet area, triglyceride content and key genes regulating lipid metabolism were detected by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT), assay kit, microscope observation and RT-PCR methods to explore the regulatory mechanism of mammary health and milk fat synthesis. The results showed that compared with those of the control group, the survival rates of cells were significantly decreased after 9 h of stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.01). The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that of the control group, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cells was significantly increased (P<0.05) after stimulation with 10000 ng/ml LPS for 9 h. After 9 h of stimulation with 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS, the total lipid drop area and triglyceride (TG) content of MAC-T cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expression levels of fatty acid synthesis-related genes Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) were significantly decreased after 9 h of stimulation with 100 ng/ml, 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.05), while the expression levels of Fatty Acid synthetase (FAS) were significantly decreased after stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS (P<0.05). TG synthesis by the related gene Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) was significantly lower than that of the control group after stimulation with 1000 ng/ml and 10000 ng/ml LPS for 9 h (P<0.05), and Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (DGAT2) also showed a significant decrease after 10000 ng/ml LPS stimulation (P<0.05). In conclusion, adding different concentrations of LPS to MAC-T cells not only led to a decrease in cell activity, resulting in oxidative damage, but also affected fatty acid and TG synthesis, which may ultimately be closely related to the decrease in milk fat synthesis.
Ophthalmological markers of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Lobzin V. Yu. , Maltsev D. S. , Strumentova E. S. , Burnasheva M. A. , Cheremisin S. S.
Published: March 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease-causing dementia. The severity of symptoms determines the diagnosis of AD, although an accurate diagnosis can only be made postmortem. Neuropsychological testing is the «gold standard» for early diagnosis of AD, but is time-consuming, does not allow a complete diagnosis with complete accuracy, is highly dependent on the correctness of the tests, and is rather an adjunct to the examination of the patient. Lumbar puncture and positron emission tomography are not available for routine screening of the population. Because the eye is an extension of the central nervous system, the study of its changes may lead to the development of a number of non-invasive differential diagnostic tests to identify patients with AD at an early stage. In recent years, the advent of quantifiable high-resolution imaging techniques that are non-invasive, rapid, and widely available has opened up a new field of ocular-neural imaging. In this paper, we review current foreign and domestic studies of some ocular biomarkers and the methods that could potentially be used in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Clinical, psychological and neuroimaging characteristics of chronic tension headache in elderly persons
Authors: Chichanovskaya L. V. , Slyusar T. A. , Nekrasova T. M. , Slyusar I. N. , Podborsky A. R. , Flax A. G.
Published: March 2022

The aim of the study. To study clinical, psychological and neuroimaging characteristics of chronic tension headache (CTH) in the elderly.

Materials and methods. 92 patients with CHTHN (37 men and 55 women aged 55–74 years) were examined. The control group consisted of 53 people (22 men and 31 women of the same age) who did not have neurological complaints, including headache. Pain intensity was assessed on a 10-point visual analogue scale. The severity of neurological symptoms was determined using the NIH-NINDS scale. For the study of cognitive functions, a short scale for assessing mental status was used Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a frontal assessment battery (FAB). Memory was assessed according to the results of the memory subtest MMSE and the 10 words test. The level of attention was studied using the Schulte table, speech fluency – in the «fluency of speech» subtest of the FAB and in the test of verbal associations, visuospatial functions were assessed using the clock drawing test. Memory was assessed by the results of the subtest of memory MMSE and the 10-words test. The level of attention was studied using the Schulte table, the fluency of speech – in the subtest ‘fluency of speech’ FAB and in the verbal association test, visuospatial functions were assessed using the clock drawing test. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head was performed on a Magnetom Impact Expert (Siemens, Germany) tomograph with a magnetic field strength of 1.5 Tesla in T1 and T2 modes. The localization and severity of leukoaraiosis, signs of external and internal atrophy of the brain were determined, the linear dimensions of the anterior horns and central sections of the bodies of the lateral ventricles were measured, and the indices of the anterior horns and bodies of the lateral ventricles were calculated.

Results. Patients with chronic tension headache were characterized by clinical and cognitive heterogeneity: frequent «non-standard» characteristics of headache, severe polymorphism of algic manifestations, high frequency of comorbid disorders, cognitive dysfunction and somatic burden, high representation of leukoaraiosis, external and internal hydrocephalus according to MRI study.
Cerebral stroke in patients with malignant neoplasms (literature review)
Authors: Borsukov A. P. , Lebedev I. A. , Nekrasov D. A. , Zakharchuk E. V. , Boldyreva Yu. V. , Tariverdiyeva Z. N.
Published: March 2022

The article reflects the significant domestic and foreign literature data result on the development of cerebral stroke against the background of malignant neoplasm analysis and the identification of specific risk factors for brain acute vascular lesions in patients with cancer.

Aim. Literature data analysis on cerebral stroke and specific risk factors for its development in patients with malignant neoplasms.

Materials and methods. Domestic and foreign literature sources on the influence of oncopathology on the cerebral stroke occurrence subject were studied.

Results. The presence of a malignant neoplasm seems to be an independent risk factor for death in patients with cerebral infarction, and its risk is the same in men and women. The main link in acute ischemic brain injury in patients with malignant neoplasms is the tissue factor expression that triggers a coagulation cascade with an increase in the level of D-dimer and other fibrin degradation products. Stroke risk is highest in the first 3 months after the detection of the tumor and significantly decreases by the year.

Conclusions. Scientific research of the oncopathology on the cerebral stroke development influence mainly concern the hemostasis study without assessing its platelet component and the oncopathology type in this category of patients, but do not sufficiently reflect the structure of acute cerebrovascular accidents. Literature analysis showed the absence of studies on the relationship between the strokes’ frequency and histological and immunohistochemical data.
Penyusunan Peraturan Desa tentang Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Desa Berbasis Partisipasi Masyarakat di Desa Cileles, Jatinangor, Sumedang, Jawa Barat
Authors: Rahmah Mutia , Hamdi Muchlis
Published: March 2022

Persepsi yang berkembang selama ini bahwa partisipasi masyarakat dalam penyusunan rancangan peraturan desa (perdes) adalah pada saat peraturan desa sedang dibahas dan disepakati bersama antara pemerintah desa dan BPD. Persepsi tersebut ternyata belum sejalan dengan ketentuan normatif bahwa partisipasi masyarakat seharusnya dimulai sejak penetapan rencana penyusunan rancangan perdes. Hal ini tentunya juga berlaku dalam penyusunan perdes yang bersifat tahunan yakni Perdes APBDes. Kegiatan pengabdian in bertujuan meningkatkan pemahaman dan kesadaran aparat desa, BPD, dan masyarakat akan pentingnya peran masing-masing aktor dalam penyusunan Perdes APBDes serta untuk melatih dan menyimulasikan penyusunan Perdes APBDes kepada masyarakat agar dapat terampil dalam penyampaian aspirasi dan membangun kesepakatan untuk prioritas program desa serta terampil berpartisipasi baik secara individu maupun organisasional. Metode kegiatan pengabdian ini dilakukan melalui ceramah, diskusi, tanya jawab terkait penyusunan Perdes APBDes, serta berbagi pengalaman, pelatihan, dan simulasi dalam pelaksanaan musyawarah dusun dan musyawarah BPD. Temuan dalam kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah adanya kecenderungan pemerintah desa kurang memberikan kesempatan kepada masyarakat untuk berpartisipasi dalam kegiatan pemerintah desa, motivasi peserta belum berbasis kesadaran namun masih bersifat pengerahan, serta masih belum memadainya kapasitas BPD sebagai penampung dan penyalur aspirasi masyarakat desa dan sebagai mitra pemerintah desa di Desa Cileles. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa peningkatan literasi, pelatihan, dan simulasi yang dilakukan dapat memberikan pengetahuan, perubahan persepsi, dan pemahaman akan pentingnya peran setiap aktor baik pemerintah desa sebagai pelayan masyarakat, BPD sebagai wadah aspirasi masyarakat, dan masyarakat sebagai objek dan subjek pembangunan.
Peningkatan Kompetensi Aparatur dalam Pelayanan Pengaduan Berbasis Online di Kelurahan Kota Cimahi
Authors: Setiawan Irfan
Published: March 2022

Kota Cimahi yang memiliki kepadatan penduduk yang tinggi, memberikan dampak permasalahan sosial kemasyarakatan yang tinggi pula. Permasalahan sosial kemasyarakatan tersebut perlu ditangani dengan cepat oleh kelurahan sebagai pemerintahan terdekat dengan masyarakat. Kelurahan perlu didukungdengan layanan pengaduan yang dapat segera diakses oleh masyarakat dalam pemenuhan kebutuhan dan penanganan berbagai masalah yang terjadi pada kehidupan masyarakat. Layanan tersebut perlu didukung oleh aparat yang memiliki kompetensi dalam pelayanan pemerintahan yang banyak dikembangkan di kota Cimahi. Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat berbasis riset dan kajian bertujuan untuk peningkatan kompetensi aparatur dalam pelayanan pemerintahan berbasis online pada Kelurahan di Kecamatan Cimahi Selatan khususnya dalam bidang pelayanan pengaduan masyarakat secara online. Metode pengabdian melalui empat tahapan, yaitu tahapan koordinasi, tahapan identifikasi target, tahapan analisis data, dan tahapan implementasi kegiatan. Hasil pengabdian kepada masyarakat berbasis riset dan kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa perlunya peningkatan kompetensi aparatur kelurahan dalam pelayanan pengaduan masyarakat secara online Kecamatan Cimahi Selatan. Peningkatan dilakukan agar aparatur dapat memahami tata kelola dalam layanan pengaduan secara online. Diperlukannya sosialisasi baik secara langsung kepada masyarakat melalui poster dan brosur mengenai layanan pemerintahan secara online.
Sterile Fluid Transfer for Cell Therapy Manufacturing—The Value of Multiple-Use Aseptic Connector
Authors: Wu Ying Ying , Lee Jia Sheng Zach , Chen Sixun , Liu Dan
Published: March 2022

Sterile fluid transfer between vessels is a key step in cell therapy manufacturing and requires specialised devices to maintain sterility of both vessels before, during and after the transfer. This review introduces two main types of devices for sterile fluid transfer in cell therapy manufacturing, namely single-use sterile connectors and tube welders. While these are excellent devices for infrequent moderate to large volume transfers, a new multiple-use aseptic connector may fill the gap for frequent small volume fluid transfers that are particularly important for autologous cell therapy manufacturing.
Effect of Velocity and Contact Stress Area on the Dynamic Behavior of the Spinal Cord Under Different Testing Conditions
Authors: Jin Chen , Zhu Rui , Xu Meng-lei , Zheng Liang-dong , Zeng Hui-zi , Xie Ning , Cheng Li-ming
Published: March 2022

Knowledge of the dynamic behavior of the spinal cord under different testing conditions is critical for our understanding of biomechanical mechanisms of spinal cord injury. Although velocity and contact stress area are known to affect external mechanical stress or energy upon sudden traumatic injury, quantitative investigation of the two clinically relevant biomechanical variables is limited. Here, freshly excised rat spinal-cord–pia-arachnoid constructs were tested through indentation using indenters of different sizes (radii: 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mm) at various loading rates ranging from 0.04 to 0.20 mm/s. This analysis found that the ex vivo specimen displayed significant nonlinear viscoelasticity at <10% of specimen thickness depth magnitudes. At higher velocity and larger contact stress area, the cord withstood a higher peak load and exhibited more sensitive mechanical relaxation responses (i.e., increasing amplitude and speed of the drop in peak load). Additionally, the cord became stiffer (i.e., increasing elastic modulus) and softer (i.e., decreasing elastic modulus) at a higher velocity and larger contact stress area, respectively. These findings will improve our understanding of the real-time complex biomechanics involved in traumatic spinal cord injury.
Evaluation of Tracheal Stenosis in Rabbits Using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography
Authors: Wen Yanting , Wu Dan , Zhang Jing , Jiang Shixie , Xiong Chunyan , Guo Dan , Chi Zihui , Chen Yi , Li Lun , Yang Ying , Liu Ting , Jiang Huabei
Published: March 2022

Objective: Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) are evolving technologies that are capable of delivering real-time, high-resolution images of tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using PAT and MSOT for detecting histology in a rabbit tracheal stenosis model. 

Method: A total of 12 rabbits (9 stenosis and three control) were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D). Each group consisted of three rabbits, which were staged at the first, fourth, and eighth weeks of stenosis progression, respectively. PAT/MSOT images and corresponding histology from these experimental animals were compared, for analyzing the morphologic features and quantitative tracheal measurements in different tracheal stenosis stage.

Result: Both the PAT images and corresponding histology indicated the most severe degree of stenosis in group C. MSOT images indicated notable differences in tracheal contents of group B and D.

Conclusion: This study suggests that PAT/MSOT are potentially valuable non-invasive modality which are capable of evaluating tracheal structure and function in vivo.
A Method of Optimizing Weight Allocation in Data Integration Based on Q-Learning for Drug-Target Interaction Prediction
Authors: Sun Jiacheng , Lu You , Cui Linqian , Fu Qiming , Wu Hongjie , Chen Jianping
Published: March 2022

Calculating and predicting drug-target interactions (DTIs) is a crucial step in the field of novel drug discovery. Nowadays, many models have improved the prediction performance of DTIs by fusing heterogeneous information, such as drug chemical structure and target protein sequence and so on. However, in the process of fusion, how to allocate the weight of heterogeneous information reasonably is a huge challenge. In this paper, we propose a model based on Q-learning algorithm and Neighborhood Regularized Logistic Matrix Factorization (QLNRLMF) to predict DTIs. First, we obtain three different drug-drug similarity matrices and three different target-target similarity matrices by using different similarity calculation methods based on heterogeneous data, including drug chemical structure, target protein sequence and drug-target interactions. Then, we initialize a set of weights for the drug-drug similarity matrices and target-target similarity matrices respectively, and optimize them through Q-learning algorithm. When the optimal weights are obtained, a new drug-drug similarity matrix and a new drug-drug similarity matrix are obtained by linear combination. Finally, the drug target interaction matrix, the new drug-drug similarity matrices and the target-target similarity matrices are used as inputs to the Neighborhood Regularized Logistic Matrix Factorization (NRLMF) model for DTIs. Compared with the existing six methods of NetLapRLS, BLM-NII, WNN-GIP, KBMF2K, CMF, and NRLMF, our proposed method has achieved better effect in the four benchmark datasets, including enzymes(E), nuclear receptors (NR), ion channels (IC) and G protein coupled receptors (GPCR).
Comprehensive Analysis of TRP Channel-Related Genes for Estimating the Immune Microenvironment, Prognosis, and Therapeutic Effect in Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Fangchao , Gao Shaolin , Qin Xuebo , Niu Ren , Li Zhirong , Wang Chuan , Li Shujun
Published: March 2022

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the year 2021 was awarded to Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius for their discoveries of temperature-sensitive receptors (TRP channels) and tactile receptors (Piezo channels), both of which were previously unknown. TRP channels are at the heart of the human ability to detect temperature, and they also play crucial regulatory functions in the occurrence and progression of cancer. Despite this, there have been no research conducted on the prognostic significance of TRP channels in individuals with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In GEO and TCGA cohorts, unsupervised clustering was first conducted based on 18 TRP channel-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) extracted from MSigDB database and KEGG database. Two TRP subtypes were identified and patients in subtype B had the best prognosis among the two subtypes. Significant differences in staging and grading existed among the different subtypes. In GEO cohort, univariate Cox analysis were performed to screen prognosis related genes. A TRP channel-related prognostic signature, which included 7 signature-related genes, was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression. Patients were divided into a high-risk group and low-risk group by the median risk score. In GEO and TCGA cohorts, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, principal component analysis (PCA), and univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed to confirm the validity of signature. Following a more in-depth study of the TME based on the risk signature, it was discovered that the high-risk group had higher immune cell infiltration and lower tumor purity, indicating a bad prognosis. Patients with high risk scores also had increased immune checkpoint expression, indicating that these patients may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy than other patients. We also found that paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil displayed a better response in treating the low-risk score ESCC patients. This study also adopted GTEx and qRT-PCR to perform experimental verification processes. In summary, we identified a TRP channel-associated prognostic signature. This signature can predict prognosis and immune microenvironment in ESCC.
A Review: Adsorption and Removal of Heavy Metals Based on Polyamide-amines Composites
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhu Sining , Xi Chen , Zhang Fan
Published: March 2022

In recent years, the problem of heavy metal pollution has become increasingly prominent, so it is urgent to develop new heavy metal adsorption materials. Compared with many adsorbents, the polyamide-amine dendrimers (PAMAMs) have attracted extensive attention of researchers due to its advantages of macro-molecular cavity, abundant surface functional groups, non-toxicity, high efficiency and easy modification. But in fact, it is not very suitable as an adsorbent because of its solubility and difficulty in separation, which also limits its application in environmental remediation. Therefore, in order to make up for the shortcomings of this material to a certain extent, the synthesis and development of polymer composite materials based on PAMAMs are increasingly prominent in the direction of solving heavy metal pollution. In this paper, the application of composites based on PAMAMs and inorganic or organic components in the adsorption of heavy metal ions is reviewed. Finally, the prospects and challenges of PAMAMs composites for removal of heavy metal ions in water environment are discussed.
Associations Between Vaginal Bacteria and Bacterial Vaginosis Signs and Symptoms: A Comparative Study of Kenyan and American Women
Authors: Carter Kayla A. , Balkus Jennifer E. , Anzala Omu , Kimani Joshua , Hoffman Noah G. , Fiedler Tina L. , Mochache Vernon , Fredricks David N. , McClelland Raymond Scott , Srinivasan Sujatha
Published: March 2022

Background

Bacterial colonization and associations with bacterial vaginosis (BV) signs and symptoms (Amsel criteria) may vary between populations. We assessed relationships between vaginal bacteria and Amsel criteria among two populations.

Methods

Kenyan participants from the placebo arm of the Preventing Vaginal Infections (PVI) trial and participants from a Seattle-based cross-sectional BV study were included. Amsel criteria were recorded at study visits, and the vaginal microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Logistic regression models, accounting for repeat visits as appropriate, were fit to evaluate associations between bacterial relative abundance and each Amsel criterion.

Results

Among 84 PVI participants (496 observations) and 220 Seattle participants, the prevalence of amine odor was 25% and 40%, clue cells 16% and 37%, vaginal discharge 10% and 52%, elevated vaginal pH 69% and 67%, and BV 13% and 44%, respectively. BV-associated bacterium 1 (BVAB1) was positively associated with all Amsel criteria in both populations. Eggerthella type 1, Fannyhessea (Atopobium) vaginae, Gardnerella spp., Sneathia amnii, and Sneathia sanguinegens were positively associated with all Amsel criteria in the Seattle study, and all but discharge in the PVI trial.

Conclusions

Core vaginal bacteria are consistently associated with BV signs and symptoms across two distinct populations of women.
Novel Highlight in Malarial Drug Discovery: Aspartate Transcarbamoylase
Authors: Wang Chao , Krüger Arne , Du Xiaochen , Wrenger Carsten , Groves Matthew R.
Published: March 2022

Malaria remains one of the most prominent and dangerous tropical diseases. While artemisinin and analogs have been used as first-line drugs for the past decades, due to the high mutational rate and rapid adaptation to the environment of the parasite, it remains urgent to develop new antimalarials. The pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. Unlike human host cells, the malarial parasite lacks a functional pyrimidine salvage pathway, meaning that RNA and DNA synthesis is highly dependent on the de novo synthesis pathway. Thus, direct or indirect blockage of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway can be lethal to the parasite. Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase), catalyzes the second step of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to form N-carbamoyl aspartate and inorganic phosphate, and has been demonstrated to be a promising target both for anti-malaria and anti-cancer drug development. This is highlighted by the discovery that at least one of the targets of Torin2 – a potent, yet unselective, antimalarial – is the activity of the parasite transcarbamoylase. Additionally, the recent discovery of an allosteric pocket of the human homology raises the intriguing possibility of species selective ATCase inhibitors. We recently exploited the available crystal structures of the malarial aspartate transcarbamoylase to perform a fragment-based screening to identify hits. In this review, we summarize studies on the structure of Plasmodium falciparum ATCase by focusing on an allosteric pocket that supports the catalytic mechanisms.
Cardiac Surgery Development in Cameroon: Unexpected Challenges From a Socio-Political Crisis
Authors: Mve Mvondo Charles , Giamberti Alessandro , Ngowe Ngowe Marcelin , Mbuoh Helen Anshoma , Milocco Italo , Tsague Kengni Hermann Nestor , Cirri Silvia , Frigiola Alessandro
Published: March 2022

Despite the alarming and growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is still a huge lack of specialised institutions in the region with a mean of one cardio-surgical unit for 33 million inhabitants. Despite the numerous efforts from humanitarian organisations made in recent years, the setting up of cardio-surgical units in the region remains challenging with regards to long-term sustainability. Indeed, besides the lack of financial resources, the insufficient local expertise in addition to the inadequate health infrastructure, unpredictable threats from external factors such as recurrent conflicts and humanitarian crises are still major concerns in an environment characterised by endemic socio-political instability. In Cameroon, located in the North West Anglophone region at 500 km from the capital, the cardiac centre of Shisong (CCS) is currently the lone cardio-surgical institution of the country. Fruit of a joint initiative of two Italian Non-governmental organisations namely, Bambini Cardiopatici nel Mondo (ABCnM) and Cuore Fratello (CF), and a local religious partner, the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis (TSSF), the CCS was faced with in the middle of a socio-political crisis that led to the urgent need of revision of the cardio-surgical project. The current paper reviews the impact of the ongoing socio-political crisis on the CCS over the past 3 years, in terms of clinical activities, staff perspectives, and long-term sustainability.
Case Report: Dual-Energy Computed Tomography of Cardiac Changes in IgG4-Related Disease
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhou Hui , Hu Ping , Zhao Jie , Mao Yitao , Li Zhixiao , Zhao Xi
Published: March 2022

Background

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is used in coronary plaque characterization, myocardial perfusion imaging, and pulmonary embolism diagnosis; however, there is no relevant research on DECT in IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD) involving the coronary artery. We are the first to report DECT findings of cardiac morphology and function in IgG4-RD.

Patient Findings

Multimodality cardiovascular imaging from a 63-year-old male patient, who presented with IgG4-related pancreatitis, was analyzed. An iodine map and spectral curves were obtained from the DECT, which can help to distinguish between non-calcified plaques and IgG4 lesions of the coronary artery, noninvasive FFRCT (fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography) and ECV (extracellular volume fraction) demonstrated myocardial ischemia and myocardial fibrosis, respectively.

Conclusion

The DECT can detect coronary artery tumor-like lesions caused by IgG4-RD and simultaneously assess the morphological, functional, and histological characteristics of the myocardium. This may help to guide individualized and timely treatment and avoid potentially life-threatening complications.
Endovascular Excimer Laser-Assisted Balloon Angioplasty for Infrapopliteal Arteries in Thromboangiitis Obliterans: A Treatment for Acute-Phase TAO
Authors: Pu Hongji , Jiang Yihong , Wu Zhaoyu , Lei Jiahao , Hu Jiateng , Qiu Peng , Zhang Xing , Huang Qun , Lu Xinwu , Yin Minyi , Zhao Zhen
Published: March 2022

Background

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO, Buerger's disease) is an inflammatory and obstructive vasculopathy, which leads to limb ischemic rest pain and ulcerations in the acute stage.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of excimer laser-assisted balloon angioplasty (BA) for patients with acute infrapopliteal TAO.

Method

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. In this study, 220 patients with 210 target limbs between January 2012 and September 2021 were involved. Among them, 52 target limbs have received endovascular excimer laser-assisted balloon angioplasty from January 2017. The ankle brachial index (ABI), rest pain score, ulcer, Rutherford classification, and TASC II classification were assessed. The follow-up time was 6 months.

Results

The technical success rate of laser + BA and BA groups was 71.15 and 65.82% (p = 0.5021), respectively. After intervention, the ABI of two groups were 0.85 ± 0.20 and 0.77 ± 0.20 (p = 0.0419), and the rest pain score was 1.00 ± 1.43 and 1.71 ± 2.25 (p = 0.0449). During the 6 months follow-up, the ABI of two groups was 0.76 ± 0.17 and 0.75 ± 0.23 (p = 0.8539), the rest pain score was 1.43 ± 1.82 and 2.24 ± 2.06 (p = 0.0783), and the ulcer rate was 23.68 and 40.98% (p = 0.0867), respectively. The proportion of patients who were assessed as TASC II C/D or Rutherford 4–6 in laser +BA group was significantly lower than that in BA group, indicating that the former had better efficacy. The rate of critical limb ischemia and restenosis in the laser +BA group was lower than that in the BA group (47.36 vs. 67.22%; 21.05 vs. 34.43%) during follow-up. In the laser + BA group, the reintervention rate was lower than that in the BA group (2.70 vs. 8.20%, p = 0.0425). No serious adverse events (AEs) occurred.

Conclusion

Excimer laser debulking-assisted angioplasty is a feasible, effective, and safe method to treat acute infrapopliteal TAO.
An Application of Machine Learning Techniques to Analyze Patient Information to Improve Oral Health Outcomes
Authors: Ameli Nazila , Gibson Monica Prasad , Khanna Amreesh , Howey Madison , Lai Hollis
Published: March 2022

Objective

Various health-related fields have applied Machine learning (ML) techniques such as text mining, topic modeling (TM), and artificial neural networks (ANN) to automate tasks otherwise completed by humans to enhance patient care. However, research in dentistry on the integration of these techniques into the clinic arena has yet to exist. Thus, the purpose of this study was to: introduce a method of automating the reviewing patient chart information using ML, provide a step-by-step description of how it was conducted, and demonstrate this method's potential to identify predictive relationships between patient chart information and important oral health-related contributors.

Methods

A secondary data analysis was conducted to demonstrate the approach on a set of anonymized patient charts collected from a dental clinic. Two ML applications for patient chart review were demonstrated: (1) text mining and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) were used to preprocess, model, and cluster data in a narrative format and extract common topics for further analysis, (2) Ordinal logistic regression (OLR) and ANN were used to determine predictive relationships between the extracted patient chart data topics and oral health-related contributors. All analysis was conducted in R and SPSS (IBM, SPSS, statistics 22).

Results

Data from 785 patient charts were analyzed. Preprocessing of raw data (data cleaning and categorizing) identified 66 variables, of which 45 were included for analysis. Using LDA, 10 radiographic findings topics and 8 treatment planning topics were extracted from the data. OLR showed that caries risk, occlusal risk, biomechanical risk, gingival recession, periodontitis, gingivitis, assisted mouth opening, and muscle tenderness were highly predictable using the extracted radiographic and treatment planning topics and chart information. Using the statistically significant predictors obtained from OLR, ANN analysis showed that the model can correctly predict >72% of all variables except for bruxism and tooth crowding (63.1 and 68.9%, respectively).

Conclusion

Our study presents a novel approach to address the need for data-enabled innovations in the field of dentistry and creates new areas of research in dental analytics. Utilizing ML methods and its application in dental practice has the potential to improve clinicians' and patients' understanding of the major factors that contribute to oral health diseases/conditions.
Magnetic Structure and its Tectonic Implication Around Longmenshan Fault Zone Revealed by EMAG2v3
Authors: Lei Yu , Jiao Liguo , Tu Jiyao , Zhao Junhao , Huang Qinghua
Published: March 2022

The formation of magnetic minerals is bound up with the tectonic evolution history, whereupon the distribution of magnetic anomalies has great meanings for regional tectonics. In this study, we use the latest global lithospheric magnetic field model EMAG2-v3, processed by various techniques including reduction to the pole (RTP), upward continuation, derivations, Euler deconvolution, estimation of total magnetization direction, and Curie point depth (CPD), to unveil the tectonics around Longmenshan fault zone (LFZ). LFZ is clearly displayed as a positive and negative anomaly transition zone in RTP anomalies and acts as a magnetic basement boundary. The Sichuan Basin (SB), located to the east of LFZ, is marked by strong magnetic basement and NE-strike banded induced positive anomalies which are associated with the Neoproterozoic magmatic activity. The banded shape, absence of radial pattern of anomalies, and existence of fossil subduction zone supports that the magnetic basement was formed in arc environment. The CPD in SB estimated by radial average power spectral is 30–51 km, which allows magnetic minerals in deep crust or even in lithospheric mantle to exhibit high magnetizations. The Songpan-Ganzi fold belt (SGFB), in contrast, is located to the west of LFZ and covered by thick and low-susceptibility Triassic deposits of flysch, manifests as weak negative anomalies caused by relatively shallow CPD and widespread remanent magnetization. Significant positive anomalies, appearing around the Manai and Rilonguan granitic massifs, indicate a strong magnetic basement beneath SGFB, which is conjectured as westward extension of the Yangtze Block at depth.
Reflective Activity as a Promoter of Awareness Processes in College Students: A Study
Authors: Mollo Monica , Iannaccone Antonio , Savarese Giulia , Pecoraro Nadia , Fasano Oreste , D’Elia Daniela , Manzi Federico , Moccia Giuseppina
Published: March 2022

As the literature clearly shows, supporting the development of reflective awareness skills is undoubtedly an important element in learning processes. In psychology, multiple theoretical approaches and research work have delved into the study of what is termed implicit knowledge. In particular, the relationship between human activity (in terms of actions, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and reasoning) and different levels of awareness is a relevant subject of analysis that we consider as the core of this paper. In order to deepen our understanding of the concepts of awareness and reflexive activity, we refer to Pierre Vermersch’s psycho-phenomenological approach and Piaget’s theory of cognitive awareness. In this paper, we aim to show the use of the reflective approach centered on the elicitation of specific lived experiences. The objective is to promote in students a process of awareness of their activity and their role within the university context. Two students case studies from the University of Salerno took part in the research. The method used was based on narrative interviews that makes use of some techniques and principles of elicitation interviews, a conversational approach that supports the participant in focusing and describing a specific experience. The interviewer guides subjects, without induction, through the transition from the implicit of lived experience (particularly action) to the explicit of reflected awareness of that action. The data collected show how reflective activity by means of guided evocations of lived experiences helped participants become aware of how some distortions and irrational thoughts (related to the self and context) negatively affected them during the activities. The reflective work fostered by the elicitation of experiences often allows for enhanced self-awareness; the subject takes ownership of the action, analyzes it, and understands the difficulties.
Rare Disease Registries Are Key to Evidence-Based Personalized Medicine: Highlighting the European Experience
Authors: Kölker Stefan , Gleich Florian , Mütze Ulrike , Opladen Thomas
Published: March 2022

Rare diseases, such as inherited metabolic diseases, have been identified as a health priority within the European Union more than 20 years ago and have become an integral part of EU health programs and European Reference Networks. Having the potential to pool data, to achieve sufficient sample size, to overcome the knowledge gap on rare diseases and to foster epidemiological and clinical research, patient registries are recognized as key instruments to evidence-based medicine for individuals with rare diseases. Patient registries can be used for multiple purposes, such as (1) describing the natural history and phenotypic diversity of rare diseases, (2) improving case definition and indication to treat, (3) identifying strategies for risk stratification and early prediction of disease severity (4), evaluating the impact of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies on individual health, health economics, and the society, and (5) informing guideline development and policy makers. In contrast to clinical trials, patient registries aim to gather real-world evidence and to achieve generalizable results based on patient cohorts with a broad phenotypic spectrum. In order to develop a consistent and sustained framework for rare disease registries, uniform core principles have been formulated and have been formalized through the European Rare Disease Registration Infrastructure. Adherence to these core principles and compliance with the European general data protection regulations ensures that data collected and stored in patient registries can be exchanged and pooled in a protected environment. To illustrate the benefits and limitations of patient registries on rare disease research this review focuses on inherited metabolic diseases.
The Effects of Sesamin Supplementation on Obesity, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Sun Yiting , Ren Jingyi , Zhu Siqi , Zhang Zhenao , Guo Zihao , An Jiaqi , Yin Bowen , Ma Yuxia
Published: March 2022

Aims

Sesamin, the main lignin constituent of sesame, plays a pivotal role in regulating physical state. Some studies have evidenced that the supplementation of sesamin may decrease cardiovascular disease risk. The goal of this systematic review was to summarize evidence of the effects of sesamin supplementation on obesity, blood pressure, and lipid profile in humans by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Data Synthesis

Five databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched electronically from inception to July 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that assessed the impact of sesamin on obesity, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and standard deviation (SD) were used to present the major outcomes.

Conclusions

Seven trials (n = 212 participants) were included in the overall analysis. Results showed that sesamin supplementation caused a great reduction in TC (WMD: -10.893 mg/dl, 95% CI: −19.745 to −2.041, p = 0.016), LDL-c (WMD: -8.429 mg/dl, 95% CI: −16.086 to −0.771, p = 0.031), and SBP (WMD: −3.662 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.220 to −1.105, p = 0.005), whereas it had no effect on HDL-c, TG, DBP, or weight. Subgroup analysis showed that duration, parallel design, and unhealthy status can affect TC, LDL-c, and SBP evidently. We did not discover a strong link between indicators’ changes and duration of supplementation. Sesamin can be used as an obtainable dietary supplement to improve blood pressure and blood lipids, and further as a health product to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Simulation-Assisted Determination of the Minimum Melting Temperature Composition of MgCl2–KCl–NaCl Salt Mixture for Next-Generation Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Villada Carolina , Ding Wenjin , Bonk Alexander , Bauer Thomas
Published: March 2022

Molten chloride mixtures such as MgCl2–KCl–NaCl are potential thermal energy storage (TES) materials and heat transfer fluids (HTFs) for next-generation concentrating solar power (CSP) systems due to their high operation temperatures (>700°C) and low costs. This ternary MgCl2–KCl–NaCl salt mixture with a low material cost (<0.35 $/kg) is a promising salt for high-temperature TES/HTF applications, for example, it could enable next-generation CSP plants to have significant power cycle efficiency and lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). In this study, the minimum melting temperature composition for the MgCl2–KCl–NaCl mixture was estimated by FactSage simulation, while the binary and ternary phase diagrams of the MgCl2–KCl–NaCl salt system, including their phase transitions, were studied. Five different eutectic compositions of the MgCl2–KCl–NaCl mixture from literature and simulations were selected to determine the minimum melting temperature composition by the differential scanning calorimetry technique. Results show agreement between experiments and simulations of the melting temperature and its composition. Hence, values of the exact and reliable minimum melting temperature and salt composition in mol% and wt% are given. Based on the determined melting temperature, the minimum operating temperature of MgCl2–KCl–NaCl is recommended according to the safety margin for CSP applications.
Critical Transmission Paths of Aggregate Embodied Carbon Emission Influencing Factors in China
Authors: Xu Duo , Liu Gengyuan , Xu Linyu , Chen Caocao , Meng Fanxin , Li Hui , Zhang Wen , Casazza Marco
Published: March 2022

Carbon emissions, being embedded in sectorial production chains, need to be reduced through targeted carbon emission reduction strategies. For such a reason, it is urgent to assess the contributions of different influencing factors among different sectors for different supply chains. Focused on China, being the world’s largest carbon emitter, this paper uses the latest 2018 China’s input-output table to assess different factors, at sectoral scale, related to embodied carbon emissions. The analysis proved that the total final use factor prompted the largest emission growth, while the input-output structure factor inhibited the emission increase significantly. The gross fixed capital formation category was the largest contributor to aggregate embodied carbon emission growth, followed by urban consumption and export categories. The construction was identified as a key sector for its embodied carbon emission, the most relevant intermediate inputs to construction sector are the manufacture of non-metallic mineral products, the smelting and rolling of metals, and the production and supply of electric power and heat power sectors. Results indicate that, in the case of China, low-carbon building materials should be favored in the future. Meanwhile, energy-saving should be promoted among urban residents to increase the effectiveness of carbon emissions reduction strategies.
Deep Genomic Divergence and Phenotypic Admixture of the Treefrog Dendropsophus elegans (Hylidae: Amphibia) Coincide With Riverine Boundaries at the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Pirani Renata M. , Tonini João F. R. , Thomaz Andréa T. , Napoli Marcelo F. , Encarnação Lais C. , Knowles L. Lacey , Werneck Fernanda P.
Published: March 2022

The Atlantic Forest (AF) domain is one of the Earth’s biodiversity hotspots, known for its high levels of species diversity and endemism. Factors related to palaeoenvironmental dynamics, such as the establishment of vegetational refugia and river basins, have different impacts on biological communities and biodiversity patterns in this domain. Here, we sample genome-wide RADseq data from a widespread treefrog (Dendropsophus elegans), inhabiting natural and human-impacted ecosystems at the Brazilian AF to test the impact of riverine boundaries and climatic refugia on population structure and diversification. We estimate divergence times and migration rate across identified genetic breaks related to the rivers Doce, Paraíba do Sul, Ribeira de Iguape, and Paraguaçu, known to represent barriers to gene flow for other AF endemic species, and test the role of climatic refugia. Finally, we investigate the impact of spatio-temporal population history on morphological variation in this species. We recovered a phylogeographic history supporting three distinct clades separated into two geographically structured populations, corresponding to the north and south of AF. In addition, we identified an admixture zone between north and south populations in the latitude close to the Doce River. Our findings support a pattern of isolation-by-distance and the existence of a secondary contact zone between populations, which might have been promoted by gene flow during population expansion. Further, we found support for models considering migration parameters for all the tested rivers with different population divergence times. Based on the species history and the AF palaeoenvironmental dynamics, we corroborate the role of forest refugia impacting population structure for this species through recent range expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The Doce and Paraíba do Sul Rivers coincide with the main genetic breaks, suggesting they might also have played a role in the diversification processes. Finally, despite finding subtle correlations for phenotypic data among different populations, variation is not strongly detectable and does not seem associated with speciation-level processes that could warrant taxonomic changes. Such results can be explained by phenotypic plasticity of the evaluated traits and by recent divergence times, where there has been insufficient time and weak selective pressures to accumulate enough phenotypic differences.