bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective superior vena cava isolation using a novel C-shaped approach
Authors: Chen Chun-Kai , Yu Chih-Chieh
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Superior vena cava (SVC) isolation has been proposed as part of the ablation strategy for atrial fibrillation. However, circumferential isolation of the SVC can lead to late-onset complications, such as SVC stenosis.

Methods

We describe a detailed observation of the SVC conduction pattern and present a newly developed approach for SVC isolation that involves creating a C-shaped non-circumferential ablation line while sparing the lateral segment.

Results

Twelve consecutive patients were included in the study, all of whom achieved bidirectional block during the ablation procedure.

Discussion

This approach to SVC isolation is effective and has the potential to reduce ablation related complications; however, larger studies and long-term follow-up is warranted to confirm these findings.
Sepsis-induced coagulopathy is associated with new episodes of atrial fibrillation in patients admitted to critical care in sinus rhythm
Authors: Ortega-Martorell Sandra , Olier Ivan , Johnston Brian W. , Welters Ingeborg D.
Published: September 2023

Background

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease commonly complicated by activation of coagulation and immune pathways. Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) is associated with micro- and macrothrombosis, but its relation to other cardiovascular complications remains less clear. In this study we explored associations between SIC and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in sinus rhythm. We also aimed to identify predictive factors for the development of AF in patients with and without SIC.

Methods

Data were extracted from the publicly available AmsterdamUMCdb database. Patients with sepsis and documented sinus rhythm on admission to ICU were included. Patients were stratified into those who fulfilled the criteria for SIC and those who did not. Following univariate analysis, logistic regression models were developed to describe the association between routinely documented demographics and blood results and the development of at least one episode of AF. Machine learning methods (gradient boosting machines and random forest) were applied to define the predictive importance of factors contributing to the development of AF.

Results

Age was the strongest predictor for the development of AF in patients with and without SIC. Routine coagulation tests activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of inflammation were also associated with AF occurrence in SIC-positive and SIC-negative patients. Cardiorespiratory parameters (oxygen requirements and heart rate) showed predictive potential.

Conclusion

Higher INR, elevated CRP, increased heart rate and more severe respiratory failure are risk factors for occurrence of AF in critical illness, suggesting an association between cardiac, respiratory and immune and coagulation pathways. However, age was the most dominant factor to predict the first episodes of AF in patients admitted in sinus rhythm with and without SIC.
The low-temperature germinating spores of the thermophilic Desulfofundulus contribute to an extremely high sulfate reduction in burning coal seams
Authors: Karnachuk Olga V. , Rusanov Igor I. , Panova Inna A. , Kadnikov Vitaly V. , Avakyan Marat R. , Ikkert Olga P. , Lukina Anastasia P. , Beletsky Alexey V. , Mardanov Andrey V. , Knyazev Yuri V. , Volochaev Mikhail N. , Pimenov Nikolai V. , Ravin Nikolai V.
Published: September 2023

Burning coal seams, characterized by massive carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, the presence of secondary sulfates, and high temperatures, represent suitable environments for thermophilic sulfate reduction. The diversity and activity of dissimilatory sulfate reducers in these environments remain unexplored. In this study, using metagenomic approaches, in situ activity measurements with a radioactive tracer, and cultivation we have shown that members of the genus Desulfofundulus are responsible for the extremely high sulfate reduction rate (SRR) in burning lignite seams in the Altai Mountains. The maximum SRR reached 564 ± 21.9 nmol S cm−3 day−1 at 60°C and was of the same order of magnitude for both thermophilic (60°C) and mesophilic (23°C) incubations. The 16S rRNA profiles and the search for dsr gene sequences in the metagenome revealed members of the genus Desulfofundulus as the main sulfate reducers. The thermophilic Desulfofundulus sp. strain Al36 isolated in pure culture, did not grow at temperatures below 50°C, but produced spores that germinated into metabolically active cells at 20 and 15°C. Vegetative cells germinating from spores produced up to 0.738 ± 0.026 mM H2S at 20°C and up to 0.629 ± 0.007 mM H2S at 15°C when CO was used as the sole electron donor. The Al36 strain maintains significant production of H2S from sulfate over a wide temperature range from 15°C to 65°C, which is important in variable temperature biotopes such as lignite burning seams. Burning coal seams producing CO are ubiquitous throughout the world, and biogenic H2S may represent an overlooked significant flux to the atmosphere. The thermophilic spore outgrowth and their metabolic activity at temperatures below the growth minimum may be important for other spore-forming bacteria of environmental, industrial and clinical importance.
Characteristics of rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial community of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris) grown in Karst area
Authors: Wei Xiaoliao , Fu Tianling , He Guandi , Zhong Zhuoyan , Yang Mingfang , Lou Fei , He Tengbing
Published: September 2023

Understanding the rhizosphere soil microbial community and its relationship with the bulk soil microbial community is critical for maintaining soil health and fertility and improving crop yields in Karst regions. The microbial communities in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of a Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris) plantation in a Karst region, as well as their relationships with soil nutrients, were examined in this study using high-throughput sequencing technologies of 16S and ITS amplicons. The aim was to provide theoretical insights into the healthy cultivation of Chinese cabbage in a Karst area. The findings revealed that the rhizosphere soil showed higher contents of organic matter (OM), alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), total phosphorus (TP), available potassium (AK), total potassium (TK), total nitrogen (TN), catalase (CA), urease (UR), sucrase (SU), and phosphatase (PHO), in comparison with bulk soil, while the pH value showed the opposite trend. The diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in the bulk soil was higher than that in the rhizosphere soil, and their compositions differed between the two types of soil. In the rhizosphere soil, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota were the dominant bacterial phyla, while Olpidiomycota, Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Basidiomycota were the predominant fungal phyla. In contrast, the bulk soil was characterized by bacterial dominance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteriota and fungal dominance of Ascomycota, Olpidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Basidiomycota. The fungal network was simpler than the bacterial network, and both networks exhibited less complexity in the rhizosphere soil compared with the bulk soil. Moreover, the rhizosphere soil harbored a higher proportion of beneficial Rhizobiales. The rhizosphere soil network was less complicated than the network in bulk soil by building a bacterial–fungal co-occurrence network. Furthermore, a network of relationships between soil properties and network keystone taxa revealed that the rhizosphere soil keystone taxa were more strongly correlated with soil properties than those in the bulk soil; despite its lower complexity, the rhizosphere soil contains a higher abundance of bacteria which are beneficial for cabbage growth compared with the bulk soil.
Retinal microvasculature features in patients with migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pang Yulian , Cao Ting , Zhang Qinglin , Hu Haijian , Wang Zhiruo , Nie Jiahe , Jin Ming , Chen Guiping , Zhang Xu
Published: September 2023

Background

Migraine is a central nervous system disorder involving neuronal and vascular factors. The brain has a close anatomical relationship with retinal vessels and similar regulatory processes, and the retinal vascular system is the only in vivo vessel that can be directly visualized, while optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an advanced retinal vascular imaging technique. In this study, OCTA was used to study the retinal vascular density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in migraine patients, which provided a theoretical basis for its use as a candidate for rapid and non-invasive diagnosis of migraine.

Methods

Published studies comparing retinal microvascular profiles between migraine patients and healthy controls were obtained by a comprehensive search of electronic databases. Nine studies were finally included, including 775 eyes (migraine group: 444 eyes, control group: 331 eyes). Pooled effect sizes were presented as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager software (version 5.30).

Results

The combined results revealed that the superficial and deep macular whole enface VD (MWEVD) (superficial VD: SMD = −0.30, P = 0.0001; deep VD: SMD = −0.61, P = 0.02), superficial foveal VD (FVD) (SMD = −0.42, P = 0.03), deep parafoveal VD (PFVD) (SMD = −0.31, P = 0.002), and peripapillary VD (PVD) (SMD = −0.49, P = 0.002) were significantly reduced in migraine patients compared with healthy people. However, there was a significant increase in the area of the FAZ in migraine patients (SMD = 0.56, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Migraine patients are prone to retinal microcirculation disorders, such as decreased blood vessel density and increased avascular area in the fovea. This provides a theoretical basis for OCTA as a candidate for rapid, non-invasive diagnosis of migraine.
Innovative multidimensional gait evaluation using IMU in multiple sclerosis: introducing the semiogram
Authors: Voisard Cyril , de l'Escalopier Nicolas , Vienne-Jumeau Aliénor , Moreau Albane , Quijoux Flavien , Bompaire Flavie , Sallansonnet Magali , Brechemier Marie-Laure , Taifas Irina , Tafani Camille , Drouard Eve , Vayatis Nicolas , Ricard Damien , Oudre Laurent
Published: September 2023

Background

Quantifying gait using inertial measurement units has gained increasing interest in recent years. Highly degraded gaits, especially in neurological impaired patients, challenge gait detection algorithms and require specific segmentation and analysis tools. Thus, the outcomes of these devices must be rigorously tested for both robustness and relevancy in order to recommend their routine use. In this study, we propose a multidimensional score to quantify and visualize gait, which can be used in neurological routine follow-up. We assessed the reliability and clinical coherence of this method in a group of severely disabled patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (pMS), who display highly degraded gait patterns, as well as in an age-matched healthy subjects (HS) group.

Methods

Twenty-two participants with pMS and nineteen HS were included in this 18-month longitudinal follow-up study. During the follow-up period, all participants completed a 10-meter walk test with a U-turn and back, twice at M0, M6, M12, and M18. Average speed and seven clinical criteria (sturdiness, springiness, steadiness, stability, smoothness, synchronization, and symmetry) were evaluated using 17 gait parameters selected from the literature. The variation of these parameters from HS values was combined to generate a multidimensional visual tool, referred to as a semiogram.

Results

For both cohorts, all criteria showed moderate to very high test–retest reliability for intra-session measurements. Inter-session quantification was also moderate to highly reliable for all criteria except smoothness, which was not reliable for HS participants. All partial scores, except for the stability score, differed between the two populations. All partial scores were correlated with an objective but not subjective quantification of gait severity in the pMS population. A deficit in the pyramidal tract was associated with altered scores in all criteria, whereas deficits in cerebellar, sensitive, bulbar, and cognitive deficits were associated with decreased scores in only a subset of gait criteria.

Conclusions

The proposed multidimensional gait quantification represents an innovative approach to monitoring gait disorders. It provides a reliable and informative biomarker for assessing the severity of gait impairments in individuals with pMS. Additionally, it holds the potential for discriminating between various underlying causes of gait alterations in pMS.
Differentiation between bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder in adolescents: from clinical to biological biomarkers
Authors: Yang Ruilan , Zhao Yanmeng , Tan Zewen , Lai Juan , Chen Jianshan , Zhang Xiaofei , Sun Jiaqi , Chen Lei , Lu Kangrong , Cao Liping , Liu Xuemei
Published: September 2023

Background

Mood disorders are very common among adolescents and include mainly bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), with overlapping depressive symptoms that pose a significant challenge to realizing a rapid and accurate differential diagnosis in clinical practice. Misdiagnosis of BD as MDD can lead to inappropriate treatment and detrimental outcomes, including a poorer ultimate clinical and functional prognosis and even an increased risk of suicide. Therefore, it is of great significance for clinical management to identify clinical symptoms or features and biological markers that can accurately distinguish BD from MDD. With the aid of bibliometric analysis, we explore, visualize, and conclude the important directions of differential diagnostic studies of BD and MDD in adolescents.

Materials and methods

A literature search was performed for studies on differential diagnostic studies of BD and MDD among adolescents in the Web of Science Core Collection database. All studies considered for this article were published between 2004 and 2023. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed using the VOSviewer and CiteSpace software.

Results

In total, 148 publications were retrieved. The number of publications on differential diagnostic studies of BD and MDD among adolescents has been generally increasing since 2012, with the United States being an emerging hub with a growing influence in the field. Boris Birmaher is the top author in terms of the number of publications, and the Journal of Affective Disorders is the most published journal in the field. Co-occurrence analysis of keywords showed that clinical characteristics, genetic factors, and neuroimaging are current research hotspots. Ultimately, we comprehensively sorted out the current state of research in this area and proposed possible research directions in future.

Conclusion

This is the first-ever study of bibliometric and visual analyses of differential diagnostic studies of BD and MDD in adolescents to reveal the current research status and important directions in the field. Our research and analysis results might provide some practical sources for academic scholars and clinical practice.
Perspectives on the insidious nature of pain metaphor: we literally need to change our metaphors
Authors: Johnson Mark I. , Hudson Matt , Ryan Cormac G.
Published: September 2023

Metaphorical language is used to convey one thing as representative or symbolic of something else. Metaphor is used in figurative language but is much more than a means of delivering “poetic imagination”. A metaphor is a conceptual tool for categorising, organizing, thinking about, and ultimately shaping reality. Thus, metaphor underpins the way humans think. Our viewpoint is that metaphorical thought and communication contribute to “painogenicity”, the tendency of socio-ecological environments (settings) to promote the persistence of pain. In this perspectives article, we explore the insidious nature of metaphor used in pain language and conceptual models of pain. We explain how metaphor shapes mental organisation to govern the way humans perceive, navigate and gain insight into the nature of the world, i.e., creating experience. We explain how people use metaphors to “project” their private sensations, feelings, and thoughts onto objects and events in the external world. This helps people to understand their pain and promotes sharing of pain experience with others, including health care professionals. We explore the insidious nature of “warmongering” and damage-based metaphors in daily parlance and demonstrate how this is detrimental to health and wellbeing. We explore how metaphors shape the development and communication of complex, abstract ideas, theories, and models and how scientific understanding of pain is metaphorical in nature. We argue that overly simplistic neuro-mechanistic metaphors of pain contribute to fallacies and misnomers and an unhealthy focus on biomedical research, in the hope of developing medical interventions that “prevent pain transmission [sic]”. We advocate reconfiguring pain language towards constructive metaphors that foster a salutogenic view of pain, focusing on health and well-being. We advocate reconfiguring metaphors to align with contemporary pain science, to encourage acceptance of non-medicalised strategies to aid health and well-being. We explore the role of enactive metaphors to facilitate reconfiguration. We conclude that being cognisant of the pervasive nature of metaphors will assist progress toward a more coherent conceptual understanding of pain and the use of healthier pain language. We hope our article catalyses debate and reflection.
Comprehensive analysis of Cuproplasia and immune microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kuang Junjie , Zheng Zemao , Ma Wen , Zeng Shaohui , Wu Dehua , Weng Xie , Chen Yuming
Published: September 2023

Background: Trace elements such as copper are essential for human health. Recently the journal Nat Rev Cancer has put forward the concept of Cuproplasia, a way of promoting tumor growth through reliance on copper. We attempted to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Cuproplasia-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) to explore the mechanism of action of Cuproplasia-related genes in LUAD.

Method: Transcriptome data and clinical information of LUAD were obtained from TCGA-LUAD and GSE31210, and prognostic models of Cuproplasia-related genes were constructed and verified by regression analysis of GSVA, WGCNA, univariate COX and lasso. The signal pathways affected by Cuproplasia-related genes were analyzed by GO, KEGG and hallmarK pathway enrichment methods. Five immunocell infiltration algorithms and IMVIGOR210 data were used to analyze immune cell content and immunotherapy outcomes in the high-low risk group.

Results: In the results of WGCNA, BROWN and TURQUOISE were identified as modules closely related to Cuproplasia score. In the end, lasso regression analysis established a Cuproplasia-related signature (CRS) based on 24 genes, and the prognosis of high-risk populations was worse in TCGA-LUAD and GSE31210 datasets. The enrichment analysis showed that copper proliferation was mainly through chromosome, cell cycle, dna replication, g2m checkpoint and other pathways. Immunoinfiltration analysis showed that there were differences in the content of macrophages among the four algorithms. And IMVIGOR210 found that the lower the score, the more effective the immunotherapy was.

Conclusion: The Cuproplasia related gene can be used to predict the prognosis and immunotherapy outcome of LUAD patients, and may exert its effect by affecting chromosome-related pathways and macrophages.
Status of experimental knowledge on the unbound nucleus 13Be
Authors: Jones K. L. , Kovoor J. , Kanungo R.
Published: September 2023

The structure of the unbound nucleus 13Be is important for understanding the Borromean, two-neutron halo nucleus 14Be. The experimental studies conducted over the last four decades are reviewed in the context of the beryllium chain of isotopes and some significant theoretical studies. The focus of this paper is the comparison of new data from a 12Be(d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics, which was analyzed using Geant4 simulations and a Bayesian fitting procedure, with previous measurements. Two possible scenarios to explain the strength below 1 MeV above the neutron separation energy were proposed in that study: a single p-wave resonance or a mixture of an s-wave virtual state with a weaker p- or d-wave resonance. Comparisons of recent invariant mass and the (d,p) experiments show good agreement between the transfer measurement and the two most recent high-energy nucleon removal measurements.
A preliminary study of phosphodiesterases and adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway on red blood cell deformability of sickle cell patients
Authors: Goksel Evrim , Ugurel Elif , Nader Elie , Boisson Camille , Muniansi Ingrid , Joly Philippe , Renoux Celine , Gauthier Alexandra , Connes Philippe , Yalcin Ozlem
Published: September 2023

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic anemia, intravascular hemolysis, and the occurrence of vaso-occlusive crises due to the mechanical obstruction of the microcirculation by poorly deformable red blood cells (RBCs). RBC deformability is a key factor in the pathogenesis of SCD, and is affected by various factors. In this study, we investigated the effects of adenylyl cyclase (AC) signaling pathway modulation and different phosphodiesterase (PDE) modulatory molecules on the deformability and mechanical stress responses of RBC from SCD patients (HbSS genotype) by applying 5 Pa shear stress with an ektacytometer (LORRCA). We evaluated RBC deformability before and after the application of shear stress. AC stimulation with Forskolin had distinct effects on RBC deformability depending on the application of 5 Pa shear stress. RBC deformability was increased by Forskolin before shear stress application but decreased after 5 Pa shear stress. AC inhibition with SQ22536 and protein kinase A (PKA) inhibition with H89 increased RBC deformability before and after the shear stress application. Non-selective PDE inhibition with Pentoxifylline increased RBC deformability. However, modulation of the different PDE types had distinct effects on RBC deformability, with PDE1 inhibition by Vinpocetine increasing deformability while PDE4 inhibition by Rolipram decreased RBC deformability after the shear stress application. The effects of the drugs varied greatly between patients suggesting some could benefit from one drug while others not. Developing drugs targeting the AC signaling pathway could have clinical applications for SCD, but more researches with larger patient cohorts are needed to identify the differences in the responses of sickle RBCs.
The effect of induced polyploidy on phytochemistry, cellular organelles and the expression of genes involved in thymol and carvacrol biosynthetic pathway in thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Authors: Mohammadi Valiollah , Talebi Samaneh , Ahmadnasab Masoumeh , Mollahassanzadeh Hossein
Published: September 2023

Induced polyploidy usually results in larger vegetative and reproductive plant organs. In order to study the effect of chromosome doubling on Thymus vulgaris, three levels of colchicine concentration including 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5% (w/v) were applied for 6, 12 and 24 hours on apical meristem of 2- and 4-leaf seedlings. Ploidy level was evaluated by flow cytometry and microscopic chromosome counting. Chemical composition of essential oils extracted by hydro-distillation was analyzed by gas Chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas Chromatography (GC). The application of 0.3% colchicine at 4-leaf seedling for 6 hours resulted in the highest survival rate and the highest number of tetraploid plants. Cytogenetic and flow cytometry analyses confirmed the increase of chromosome number from 2n=2x=30 in diploids to 2n=4x=60 in induced tetraploids. Tetraploid plants had larger leaves, taller and thicker stems, dense branching, longer trichome, larger stomata, larger guard cells, and decreased number of stomata. The number of chloroplasts and mitochondria increased significantly in tetraploid plants by 1.66 and 1.63 times, respectively. The expression of CYP71D178, CYP71D180 and CYP71D181 increased in tetraploids by 3.27, 7.39 and 2.15 times, respectively, probably resulting in higher essential oil compounds, as tetraploids outyielded the diploid plants by 64.7% in essential oil, 40.9% in thymol and 18.6% in carvacrol content.
Recent genome resequencing paraded COBRA-Like gene family roles in abiotic stress and wood formation in Poplar
Authors: Sajjad Muhammad , Ahmad Adeel , Riaz Muhammad Waheed , Hussain Quaid , Yasir Muhammad , Lu Meng‐Zhu
Published: September 2023

A cell wall determines the mechanical properties of a cell, serves as a barrier against plant stresses, and allows cell division and growth processes. The COBRA-Like (COBL) gene family encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that controls cellulose deposition and cell progression in plants by contributing to the microfibril orientation of a cell wall. Despite being studied in different plant species, there is a dearth of the comprehensive global analysis of COBL genes in poplar. Poplar is employed as a model woody plant to study abiotic stresses and biomass production in tree research. Improved genome resequencing has enabled the comprehensive exploration of the evolution and functional capacities of PtrCOBLs (Poplar COBRA-Like genes) in poplar. Phylogeny analysis has discerned and classified PtrCOBLs into two groups resembling the Arabidopsis COBL family, and group I genes possess longer proteins but have fewer exons than group II. Analysis of gene structure and motifs revealed PtrCOBLs maintained a rather stable motif and exon–intron pattern across members of the same group. Synteny and collinearity analyses exhibited that the evolution of the COBL gene family was heavily influenced by gene duplication events. PtrCOBL genes have undergone both segmental duplication and tandem duplication, followed by purifying selection. Promotor analysis flaunted various phytohormone-, growth- and stress-related cis-elements (e.g., MYB, ABA, MeJA, SA, AuxR, and ATBP1). Likewise, 29 Ptr-miRNAs of 20 families were found targeting 11 PtrCOBL genes. PtrCOBLs were found localized at the plasma membrane and extracellular matrix, while gene ontology analysis showed their involvement in plant development, plant growth, stress response, cellulose biosynthesis, and cell wall biogenesis. RNA-seq datasets depicted the bulk of PtrCOBL genes expression being found in plant stem tissues and leaves, rendering mechanical strength and rejoinders to environmental cues. PtrCOBL2, 3, 10, and 11 manifested the highest expression in vasculature and abiotic stress, and resemblant expression trends were upheld by qRT-PCR. Co-expression network analysis identified PtrCOBL2 and PtrCOBL3 as hub genes across all abiotic stresses and wood developing tissues. The current study reports regulating roles of PtrCOBLs in xylem differentiating tissues, tension wood formation, and abiotic stress latency that lay the groundwork for future functional studies of the PtrCOBL genes in poplar breeding.
Exploring through the use of physiological and isotopic techniques the potential of a PGPR-based biofertilizer to improve nitrogen fertilization practices efficiency in strawberry cultivation
Authors: García-López Jesús V. , Redondo-Gómez Susana , Flores-Duarte Noris J. , Zunzunegui María , Rodríguez-Llorente Ignacio D. , Pajuelo Eloísa , Mateos-Naranjo Enrique
Published: September 2023

The use of microorganisms as a biofertilizer in strawberry has focused mainly on pathogen biocontrol, which has led to the underestimation of the potential of microorganisms for the improvement of nutritional efficiency in this crop. A study was established to investigate the impact of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) based biofertilizer integrated by self-compatible stress tolerant strains with multiple PGP properties, including atmospheric nitrogen fixation, on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Rociera) tolerance to N deficiency in terms of growth and physiological performance. After 40 days of nitrogen fertilization shortage, inoculated plants were able to maintain root development and fertility structures (i.e. fruits and flowers) at a level similar to plants properly fertilized. In addition, inoculation lessened the negative impact of nitrogen deficiency on leaves’ dry weight and relative water content. This effect was mediated by a higher root/shoot ratio, which would have allowed them to explore larger volumes of soil for the acquisition of water. Moreover, inoculation was able to buffer up to 50% of the reduction in carbon assimilation capacity, due to its positive effect on the diffusion efficiency of CO2 and the biochemical capacity of photosynthesis, as well as on the activity of photosystem II light harvesting. Furthermore, the higher leaf C/N ratio and the maintained δ15N values close to control plants were related to positive bacterial effects at the level of the plant nutritional balance. Despite these positive effects, the application of the bacterial inoculum was unable to completely counteract the restriction of fertilization, being necessary to apply a certain amount of synthetic fertilizer for the strawberry nutrition. However, according to our results, the complementary effect of this PGPR-based biofertilizer could provide a higher efficiency in environmental and economic yields on this crop.
Comprehensive analyses of the citrus WRKY gene family involved in the metabolism of fruit sugars and organic acids
Authors: Zhang Mingfei , Lu Wen , Yang Xinxia , Li Qin , Lin Xingyu , Liu Kexin , Yin Chunmei , Xiong Bo , Liao Ling , Sun Guochao , He Siya , He Jiaxian , Wang Xun , Wang Zhihui
Published: September 2023

Sugars and organic acids are the main factors determining the flavor of citrus fruit. The WRKY transcription factor family plays a vital role in plant growth and development. However, there are still few studies about the regulation of citrus WRKY transcription factors (CsWRKYs) on sugars and organic acids in citrus fruit. In this work, a genome-wide analysis of CsWRKYs was carried out in the citrus genome, and a total of 81 CsWRKYs were identified, which contained conserved WRKY motifs. Cis-regulatory element analysis revealed that most of the CsWRKY promoters contained several kinds of hormone-responsive and abiotic-responsive cis-elements. Furthermore, gene expression analysis and fruit quality determination showed that multiple CsWRKYs were closely linked to fruit sugars and organic acids with the development of citrus fruit. Notably, transcriptome co-expression network analysis further indicated that three CsWRKYs, namely, CsWRKY3, CsWRKY47, and CsWRKY46, co-expressed with multiple genes involved in various pathways, such as Pyruvate metabolism and Citrate cycle. These CsWRKYs may participate in the metabolism of fruit sugars and organic acids by regulating carbohydrate metabolism genes in citrus fruit. These findings provide comprehensive knowledge of the CsWRKY family on the regulation of fruit quality.
Are false positives in suicide classification models a risk group? Evidence for “true alarms” in a population-representative longitudinal study of Norwegian adolescents
Authors: Haghish E. F. , Laeng Bruno , Czajkowski Nikolai
Published: September 2023

Introduction

False positives in retrospective binary suicide attempt classification models are commonly attributed to sheer classification error. However, when machine learning suicide attempt classification models are trained with a multitude of psycho-socio-environmental factors and achieve high accuracy in suicide risk assessment, false positives may turn out to be at high risk of developing suicidal behavior or attempting suicide in the future. Thus, they may be better viewed as “true alarms,” relevant for a suicide prevention program. In this study, using large population-based longitudinal dataset, we examine three hypotheses: (1) false positives, compared to the true negatives, are at higher risk of suicide attempt in future, (2) the suicide attempts risk for the false positives increase as a function of increase in specificity threshold; and (3) as specificity increases, the severity of risk factors between false positives and true positives becomes more similar.

Methods

Utilizing the Gradient Boosting algorithm, we used a sample of 11,369 Norwegian adolescents, assessed at two timepoints (1992 and 1994), to classify suicide attempters at the first time point. We then assessed the relative risk of suicide attempt at the second time point for false positives in comparison to true negatives, and in relation to the level of specificity.

Results

We found that false positives were at significantly higher risk of attempting suicide compared to true negatives. When selecting a higher classification risk threshold by gradually increasing the specificity cutoff from 60% to 97.5%, the relative suicide attempt risk of the false positive group increased, ranging from minimum of 2.96 to 7.22 times. As the risk threshold increased, the severity of various mental health indicators became significantly more comparable between false positives and true positives.

Conclusion

We argue that the performance evaluation of machine learning suicide classification models should take the clinical relevance into account, rather than focusing solely on classification error metrics. As shown here, the so-called false positives represent a truly at-risk group that should be included in suicide prevention programs. Hence, these findings should be taken into consideration when interpreting machine learning suicide classification models as well as planning future suicide prevention interventions for adolescents.
Insomnia and common mental disorder among patients with pre-existing chronic non-communicable diseases in southern Ethiopia: a survey during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ayalew Mohammed , Deribe Bedilu , Hussen Siraj , Defar Semira , Tesfaye Emnet , Gedefaw Abel
Published: September 2023

Background

COVID-19 has been causing significant mental health problems and other health-related issues. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has a significant impact on chronic disease patients, there is scant research on insomnia, common mental health disorders (CMD), and their associated factors among chronic disease patients.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of insomnia and common mental disorders (CMD) and their associated factors among patients with pre-existing chronic NCDs in Sidama, southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken between June 1 and September 1, 2021. The study included 633 participants. CMD and insomnia were assessed using a 20-item Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and a 7—item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale, respectively. To describe the various variables, descriptive statistics were used. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify independent factors associated with CMD and insomnia. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval.

Results

The prevalence of insomnia and CMD was found to be 39.3% and 46.8%, respectively. Being merchant (AOR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.82), having a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.04, 3.46), comorbid diagnosis (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI = 2.27, 6.89), low social support (poor (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.51, 7.57) and moderate (AOR = 3.13; 95% CI = 1.46, 6.69)), symptoms of insomnia (AOR = 12.08; 95% CI = 7.41, 19.72) and poor quality of life (QOL) (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.72) were independent predictors of CMD. We also found out that, having cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) (AOR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.18, 5.19), CMD (AOR = 12.09; 95% CI = 7.46, 19.61), and poor QOL (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.27, 3.26) were significantly associated with insomnia symptoms.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that substantially high prevalence of CMD and insomnia. Significant association between CMD and occupation, diagnosis, comorbidity, social support, insomnia, and QOL were found. We also revealed that having CVDs, CMD, and poor QOL were significantly associated with insomnia symptoms. Therefore, dealing with the mental health problems of patients with chronic NCDs is an essential component of public health intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suicidal ideation, attempt and associated factors among people with cancer attending cancer center, eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Nigussie Kabtamu , Tesfaye Dejene , Abdisa Lemesa , Tolosa Lidiya , Bete Tilahun , Gemechu Kabtamu , Negash Abraham , Sertsu Addisu , Dereje Jerman , Debele Gebiso Roba , Dechasa Deribe Bekele
Published: September 2023

Background

Suicide is one of the most common public health problems and the second leading cause of death among individuals 15–29 years of age. Suicidal ideation and attempt are one of the common psychiatric emergence in patients with cancer that needs early detection and management before patients end their lives. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of suicidal ideation, attempts, and associated factors among people with cancer in Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 362 participants. A composite international diagnostic interview was used to evaluate suicidal ideation and attempt. Epi-Data version 4.6.2 was used for data entry, and SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify associated factors for both suicidal ideation and attempt. p-values less than 0.05 are considered statistically significant, and the strength of the association will be represented by an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.

Results

The magnitude of suicidal ideation and attempt among people with in this study was 22.9% [95% CI, 18.7–27.4] and 9.8% [95%CI, 6.7–12.8] respectively. Being living alone [AOR = 4.90, 95% CI, 2.08–11.90], and having depressive symptoms [AOR = 3.28, 95% CI, 1.37–7.73], female ([AOR = 1.53, 95% CI, 1.30–3.23], anxiety symptoms [AOR = 3.06, 95% CI, 1.35–6.73)] and having poor social support [AOR = 3.08, 95% CI, 1.72–5.05], were significantly associated suicidal ideation whereas, Being living alone [AOR = 2.89, 95% CI, 1.09–7.65], having a depressive symptoms [AOR = 4.88, 95% CI, 1.45–13.28], being divorced/widowed [AOR = 3.46, 95% CI, 1.09–10.09] and stage four cancer [AOR = 5.53, 95% CI 2.97–7.47] were significantly associated with suicidal attempt.

Conclusion

Nearly one-quarter and one-tenth of people with cancer have suicide ideation and attempt, respectively. Suicidal behavior among cancer patients was found in this study to be a common problem. Living alone, having depressive and anxiety symptoms, being a female, having poor social support, and being in forth stage of cancer were risk factors for suicide. Therefore, early screening, diagnosing, and treating suicide and its factors will be mandatory and expected from health care providers and non-governmental organizations.
Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal intervention studies
Authors: Patikorn Chanthawat , Nerapusee Osot , Soontornvipart Kumpanart , Lawonyawut Kanta , Musikpodok Kachapong , Waleethanaphan Kanisorn , Anantachoti Puree
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease with chronic inflammation of internal and external joint structures in dogs.Cannabisspp. contains cannabidiol (CBD), a substance known for various potential indications, such as pain relief and anti-inflammatory in various types of animals, including dogs with OA. As CBD is increasingly in the spotlight for medical use, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CBD in treating canine OA.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CAB Direct for animal intervention studies investigating the effects of CBD for canine OA from database inception until February 28, 2023. Study characteristics and findings were summarized. A risk of bias in the included studies was assessed. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model to estimate the effects of CBD on pain scores (0–10), expressed as mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE.

Results

Five articles were included, which investigated the effects of CBD in 117 dogs with OA. All studies were rated as having a high risk of bias. CBD products varied substantially, i.e., oral full-spectrum CBD oil in four studies, and isolated CBD oil and liposomal CBD oil in another study. Treatment duration varied from 4–12 weeks. Meta-analyses of three studies found that, in dogs with OA, treatment with oral full-spectrum CBD oil may reduce pain severity scores (MD; −0.60, 95% CI; −1.51 to 0.31,I2= 45.64%,p = 0.19) and pain interference scores (MD; −1.52, 95% CI; −3.84 to 0.80,I2= 89.59%,p = 0.20) but the certainty of evidence was very low. CBD is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in the short-run, with few mild adverse events observed, such as vomiting and asymptomatic increase in alkaline phosphatase level.

Conclusion

CBD is considered safe for treating canine OA. CBD may reduce pain scores, but the evidence is very uncertain to conclude its clinical efficacy. High-quality clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the roles of CBD in canine OA.
Exploring the potential immunomodulatory effects of gallic acid on milk phagocytes in bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Mektrirat Raktham , Chuammitri Phongsakorn , Navathong Dussaniya , Khumma Thofun , Srithanasuwan Anyaphat , Suriyasathaporn Witaya
Published: September 2023

Bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus may exacerbate by resulting in significant economic losses and impacting milk quality. To date, the use of gallic acid, a phenolic compound naturally occurring in various plants, holds promise due to its potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in many pieces of literature, thus, making it a subject of interest in bovine innate immunity research. Here we used gallic acid to assess its potential immunomodulation on milk phagocytes in vitro challenges with mastitis-causing bacteria. Our findings indicated that cells exposed to gallic acid showed no harm to cell viability but might maintain the longevity of cells during the bacterial infection. Gallic acid-treated cells displayed reduced cell migration, phagocytosis, and bacterial killing ability, while showing an increase in ROS production, all of which are undoubtedly linked to the intracellular killing abilities of the cells. Nonetheless, the extracellular structure called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was significantly released after receiving gallic acid, representing extracellular killing. We also reported that gallic acid neutralizes inflammation by regulating specific pro-inflammatory genes (IL1B, IL6, TNF) and ROS-generating genes (CYBA, LAMP1, RAC1), subsequently preventing tissue damage. Regarding apoptosis-related genes and proteins, the increased production of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 family proteins could potentially promote the longevity of cells, implicated in the mechanism of combating bacterial invasion during udder inflammation and infection. The novel role of gallic acid on milk phagocytes highlights its potential immunomodulatory properties and contributes to our understanding of its effects on bacterial-host interactions, and provides valuable molecular insights.
Effects of Dietary Zinc and/or an Herbal Mixture on Intestinal Microbiota and Barrier Integrity in Lambs
Authors: Bujňáková Dobroslava , Kucková Katarína , Váradyová Zora , Plachá Iveta , Strompfová Viola , Bohm Jan , Micenková Lenka , Čobanová Klaudia
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the impact of feed supplementation with organic zinc and/or a medicinal plants mixture on the composition and enzymatic activity of intestinal microflora as well as on the duodenal and jejunal barrier integrity in lambs. A total of 28 lambs were randomly allocated into 4 dietary treatments (n = 7) and were fed an unsupplemented basal diet (BD), or the BD enriched with organic Zn (Zn, 70 mg/kg diet), an herbal mixture (Herbmix, 100 g/day) or a combination of both additives (Zn+Herbmix). The Herbmix contained 33% each of Fumaria officinalis, Malva sylvestris, Matricaria chamomilla and 1% Artemisia absinthium. No significant effect on the fecal microbiota composition was observed due to the 35-day or 70-day dietary treatment. The intake of Zn alone resulted in decreased bacterial enzyme activities, such as β-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase. The transepithelial electrical resistance of the small intestinal mucosa was not influenced by the dietary treatment, whereas simultaneous feeding of Zn and Herbmix exhibited higher claudin-1 and occludin levels in the jejunal mucosa. These results indicate that dietary intake of organic zinc and/or medicinal plants in the mentioned dosage did not alter the diversity of intestinal bacteria in growing lambs but did significantly influence bacterial enzyme activity. Supplementing the zinc and herbs combination showed the potential to regulate intestinal permeability by increasing the level of tight junction proteins in the jejunal mucosa.
The Construction of the Landscape- and Village-Integrated Green Governance System Based on the Entropy Method: A Study from China
Authors: Zhang Jinsong , Wang Yiding
Published: September 2023

Improving the landscape- and village-integrated green governance (LVIGE) is currently a problem faced by various countries. China has also put forward the revitalization strategy of “rural development, the environment is the background color”. How to judge and evaluate the landscape- and village-integrated green governance (LVIGE) is the main research purpose of this study. This study is based on the rural data from 2012 to 2021 in China to construct an evaluation system, which mainly includes three dimensions: economic production construction, social and cultural construction, and ecological environment construction. This study uses the relevant entropy method to calculate the landscape- and village-integrated green governance (LVIGE), and the following conclusions are drawn: There is a significant difference in the data on the ecological factors among rural areas in various provinces of China, and there is a gap in green governance. Many provinces still do not pay sufficient attention to rural development, especially the problem of rural green governance. Northeast China ranks at the bottom in terms of economic production construction, social and cultural construction, and ecological environment construction with a large gap. The rapid improvement of the landscape- and village-integrated green governance (LVIGE) is inseparable from the national policies. Therefore, to improve the development of the landscape- and village-integrated green governance (LVIGE), not only national policy support is needed, but also the local government should pay full attention to the development of the rural economy, social culture, and ecology, especially the construction of an ecological environment. The construction of the evaluation system of the LVIGE not only corresponds to the national policy, but also promotes the provinces’ attention to the environment.