bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severity and associated factors of postoperative pain in paediatric surgical patients aged 2 months–7 years at selected Addis Ababa Public Hospitals: a multicenter prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Rede Fassil Mihretu , Goshu Eyayalem Melese , muzien Sulaiman Jemal
Published: January 2024

Background:

Postoperative pain is a common and distressing consequence of surgery in children. It can lead to suffering, prolonged recovery, impaired physical functioning, and even chronic pain. Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for improving patient outcomes. However, several factors hinder the accurate assessment and management of pain in children, particularly in low-income countries. This study aims to evaluate the severity of postoperative pain in paediatric patients and identify its predictors.

Materials and methods:

A longitudinal study was conducted on 235 paediatric surgical patients aged 2 months–7 years in Public Hospitals of Addis Ababa from January to April 2023. The primary outcome, pain severity, was assessed at three different times using a pain assessment tool. Cochran’s q-test was used to compare postoperative pain incidences. The Generalized Estimating Equation was used to determine predictor variables’ effects on pain severity over time. The study demonstrated the direction of association and significance using an AOR with a 95% CI at a P value of 0.05.

Result:

The incidence of moderate to severe postoperative pain was 36.6% at 12 h, 20% at 24 h, and 10% at 36 h. Patients with preoperative pain and preoperative anxiety were more likely to experience moderate to severe postoperative pain [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.41, CI=1.15, 10.00 and AOR=2.28, CI=1.219, 4.277, respectively). Intraoperative predictors of postoperative pain severity included longer duration of surgery (AOR=6.62, CI=1.90, 23.00) and major surgery (AOR=5.2, CI=2.11, 12.88). Postoperative pain severity was reduced in patients receiving multimodal analgesia (AOR=0.24; CI=0.091, 0.652) and in patients assessed frequently in the postoperative period (AOR=0.09; CI=0.022, 0.393).

Conclusion:

A significant portion of paediatric surgical patients in this study experienced high levels of postoperative pain, particularly within the first 24 h. The most influential factors affecting pain severity were postoperative pain management strategies and assessment practices.
The Effect of Psychoeducational Interventions on Cancer-Related Fatigue
Authors: Karakuş Zeynep , Yangöz Şefika Tuğba , Özer Zeynep
Published: January 2024

Background

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of cancer patients. Psychoeducation is often used in the management of cancer-related fatigue.

Objective

The aim of this study was to synthesize the effects of psychoeducational interventions on cancer-related fatigue.

Methods

This article is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. The 11 electronic databases were searched, and studies using psychoeducational interventions to manage cancer-related fatigue were included. Data synthesis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 3.0. The random-effects model was used to pool the effect size for intervention. The subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of the characteristics of psychoeducational interventions. This study was reported according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention version 6.3 and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines.

Results

This analysis included 10 studies with a total of 1369 participants. Most of the included studies compared the psychoeducational intervention group with the passive control group. Our meta-analysis revealed that psychoeducational intervention has a positive medium effect on improving cancer-related fatigue with a low quality of evidence. Subgroup analyses indicated no difference between group and individual interventions, between face-to-face and digital interventions, or between ≤3 and >3 sessions.

Conclusions

Psychoeducational interventions can improve cancer-related fatigue. Additional well-designed randomized controlled studies are needed to upgrade the quality of evidence for psychoeducational interventions on cancer-related fatigue.

Implications for Practice

Nurses may practice psychoeducational interventions to manage cancer-related fatigue and may use this study design for randomized controlled studies for psychoeducational interventions on cancer-related fatigue.
Changes in Symptom Clusters Among Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors in Technology-Based Coaching Intervention
Authors: Min Se Hee , Chee Wonshik , Im Eun-Ok
Published: January 2024

Background

Limited research studies have focused on examining the impact of technology-based interventions in changing symptom clusters among Asian American breast cancer survivors.

Objective

The aim of this study was to understand the longitudinal impact of a technology-based program on the symptom cluster experience of Asian American breast cancer survivors.

Methods

This is a secondary data analysis that used exploratory factor analysis at each time point (baseline, post–1 month, post–3 months) for the control and intervention groups (N = 199).

Results

The number of symptom clusters remained the same, and the same symptoms remained in similar clusters across the 2 groups. The control group experienced psychological cluster, fatigue cluster, and neck/skin cluster at baseline; psychological cluster, fatigue/dizzy cluster, and neck/skin cluster at post–1 month; and psychological cluster, fatigue/dizzy cluster, and somatic cluster at post–3 months. The intervention group experienced psychological cluster, neck cluster, and appetite/itching cluster at baseline; somatic/anticholinergic cluster, psychological/sexual cluster, and appetite cluster at post–1 month; and psychological cluster, neck cluster, and itching cluster at post–3 months. The psychological and neck clusters shared similar core symptoms of feeling nervous, dry mouth, and cough between the control and intervention groups.

Conclusion

The different symptom cluster experiences may be due to the technology-based intervention where the intervention group receives individual/group coaching/support that may have changed symptom clusters over time. Yet, the true efficacy of the intervention on symptom clusters warrants further investigation.

Implications for Practice

Clinicians should understand the changes in symptom clusters as well as the presence of core symptoms and take a targeted symptom cluster approach in clinical settings.
Female Homicide Victims in Cook County, Illinois
Authors: Gitto Lorenzo , Tarozzi Ilaria , Arunkumar Ponni
Published: January 2024

Female homicide is a broad term that includes any homicide in which the victim is a female, representing the most extreme form of violence against women. This study investigated the characteristics of female homicides to determine the types and characteristics of injury, circumstances of the events, and other aspects in this specific population. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office files were searched for homicides in female subjects between January 2017 and January 2022, with no limits for age, race, or cause of death. A total of 527 cases met the criteria. Most homicides occurred in Chicago during the summer. The most common cause of death was firearm(s) wounds, followed by sharp force traumas, asphyxia, and blunt force injuries. The remaining deaths were due to combined and “other” mechanisms. Different patterns of injuries were observed at the autopsy. Alleged offenders were mostly male subjects and were frequently in a romantic relationship with the victim, and the reasons for homicide were related to jealousy and personal conflicts. This study offers an overview of homicidal deaths in female subjects in a large metropolitan area.
Molecular Subtypes of Bladder Cancer: Component Signatures and Potential Value in Clinical Decision-making
Authors: Warrick Joshua
Published: January 2024

Bladder cancer may be classified into “molecular subtypes” based on gene expression. These are associated with treatment response and patient outcomes. The gene expression signatures that define these subtypes are diverse, including signatures of epithelial differentiation, stromal involvement, cell cycle activity, and immune cell infiltration. Multiple different systems are described. While earlier studies considered molecular subtypes to be intrinsic properties of cancer, recent data have shown molecular subtypes change as tumors progress and evolve, and often differ between histologically distinct regions of a tumor. The data also indicate that some signatures that define molecular subtypes may be treated as independent continuous variables, rather than categorical subtypes, and these individual signatures may be more clinically informative. This review describes molecular subtypes of urothelial carcinoma, including histologic subtypes and tumors with divergent differentiation, and explores potential future uses in patient management.
Pneumocystis jirovecii in solid organ transplant recipients: updates in epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
Authors: Saadatzadeh Tirajeh , Angarone Michael , Stosor Valentina
Published: January 2024

Purpose of review

This review highlights the epidemiology of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in solid organ transplant recipients, advancements in the diagnostic landscape, and updates in treatment and prevention.

Recent findings

The increasing use of immune-depleting agents in the context of solid organ transplantation has given rise to P. jirovecii pneumonia in this population. The use of prophylaxis has dramatically reduced risk of infection; however, late-onset infections occur after cessation of prophylaxis and in the setting of lymphopenia, advancing patient age, acute allograft rejection, and cytomegalovirus infection. Diagnosis requires respiratory specimens, with PCR detection of Pneumocystis replacing traditional staining methods. Quantitative PCR may be a useful adjunct to differentiate between infection and colonization. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing is gaining attention as a noninvasive diagnostic tool. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole remains the drug of choice for treatment and prevention of Pneumocystis pneumonia. Novel antifungal agents are under investigation.

P. jirovecii is a fungal opportunistic pathogen that remains a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. Early detection and timely treatment remain the pillars of management.
Proposal of New ypStage Grouping System for Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Who Underwent Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery
Authors: Park Seong Yong , Park Boram , Yun Jae Kwang , Kim Hyeong Ryul , Kim Yong-Hee , Jeon Yeong Jeong , Lee Junghee , Cho Jong Ho , Choi Yong Soo , Zo Jae Il , Shim Young Mog , Kim Hong Kwan
Published: January 2024

Objective:

To propose a new ypTNM grouping system to address limitations and improve prognostic relevance.

Background:

The current eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) ypStage system shows unsatisfactory prognostic relevance in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), followed by esophagectomy.

Methods:

The study cohort included 501 patients with ESCC who received nCRT, followed by esophagectomy at the Samsung Medical Center in Korea between 1994 and 2018 (development cohort), and 422 patients treated at Asan Medical Center (validation cohort). Recursive partitioning with a tree-structured regression model was used to develop and validate a new ypStage grouping system.

Results:

In the new ypStage grouping system, ypStage I include ypT0N0 only, ypStage II includes ypTis–T2N0 or ypT0–T2N1, ypStage III includes ypT3N0–N1, and ypStage IV includes ypT4N0–N1 or ypTanyN2–3. This system adequately addressed the limitations of the existing AJCC classification system, including overlapping and reversal of survival rates. Moreover, the discrimination ability of the new system was higher than that of the existing system [concordance-index (C-index): 61.9%] in the development (C-index: 66.6%) and validation (C-index: 66.0%) cohorts. NRIe was 0.17 (95% CI: 0.09–0.26, P < 0.001) and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.10–0.27, P <0.001) in the development and validation cohorts, respectively.

Conclusions:

The current study proposes a clear revised version of the eighth edition of the AJCC ypStage grouping system that exhibits superior prognostic stratification in patients with ESCC treated with nCRT, followed by esophagectomy.
Phenotypic plasticity of a winter-diapause mechanism copes with the effects of summer global warming in an ectothermic predator
Authors: Álvarez Hugo Alejandro , Ruano Francisca
Published: January 2024

To adapt to changes in temperature, animals tend to invest more energy in thermal tolerance to enhance survival, which can have simultaneous costs on plastic traits. Would a decrease in genetic variability, due to global warming, affect the ability of populations with existing metabolic regulatory mechanisms to cope with extreme temperatures? To address this question, we conducted a series of experiments based on the A1B scenario of global warming, assessing within-population genetic variance in (a) morphological traits, (b) metabolic rate allometries, and (c) survival of a winter-diapausing predator ectotherm. Our study focused on the lacewing species
Chrysoperla pallida
, using both exogamic and endogamic artificial genetic lines. We discovered that both lines use their winter-diapausing phenotype to adapt to summer extreme temperatures caused by extreme heating conditions, but the exogamic line is prone to express phenotypic plasticity in metabolic scaling, with a trade-off between body size and mandible size, i.e. larger individuals tended to develop smaller mandibles to better survive. These findings highlight the significance of substantial phenotypic plasticity and pre-existing metabolic regulatory mechanisms in enabling ectotherms to cope with potential extreme heating occurring in global warming.
Alexei Alekseevich Abrikosov. 25 June 1928—29 March 2017
Authors: Varlamov Andrey , Littlewood FRS Peter
Published: January 2024

A. A. Abrikosov was a consummate theoretical physicist whose work permeates modern quantum many-body physics. His greatest impact is the explanation of a regime of superconductivity in large magnetic fields, where the field penetrates the superconductor in quantized vortices, but the superconducting properties persist. For this work he won the 2003 Nobel Prize (together with V. L. Ginzburg ForMemRS and A. J. Leggett FRS). This is the framework for practical uses of superconductivity for high-field magnets, used for example in magnetic resonance imaging, magnetically levitating trains and the Large Hadron Collider. The ‘Abrikosov lattice’ of quantized vortices is a precursor to more recent understandings of two-dimensional magnetism, and topological materials whose properties are defined by quantized currents. He provided the earliest understanding of resummation of singularities in quantum theories, co-authored a textbook that has trained generations of theorists and led major research institutes and programmes in the USSR and the USA.
Colin Trevor Pillinger. 9 May 1943—7 May 2014
Authors: Wright Ian
Published: January 2024

Colin Pillinger was a larger-than-life planetary scientist with an infectious enthusiasm for science. He was a founding member of the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute at the Open University in Milton Keynes. He was a mass spectroscopist who applied these techniques with great success to the study of extraterrestrial rock samples from both meteorites and the Moon. He helped identify a class of meteorite found on Earth that originated from Mars. In turn, this led to leadership of the Beagle 2 Mars lander project, which was designed to take scientific instruments to Mars in order to search for evidence of past life. Against all odds, the landing on Mars was successful, but communication with the lander was never established. Colin was a brilliant innovator, both in his science and in adopting a somewhat unconventional approach to funding the ambitious Beagle 2 project. He enjoyed the fact that, even though it was possible to purchase off-the-shelf instrumentation, the truly creative aspect of his analytic method was in the details of how it was applied, for which the rule book was still being written. Throughout his career he continued to ride the wave of new developments and was always keen to push the limits. He was a brilliant communicator, always full of engaging enthusiasm.
Replicability of simulation studies for the investigation of statistical methods: the RepliSims project
Authors: Luijken K. , Lohmann A. , Alter U. , Claramunt Gonzalez J. , Clouth F. J. , Fossum J. L. , Hesen L. , Huizing A. H. J. , Ketelaar J. , Montoya A. K. , Nab L. , Nijman R. C. C. , Penning de Vries B. B. L. , Tibbe T. D. , Wang Y. A. , Groenwold R. H. H.
Published: January 2024

Results of simulation studies evaluating the performance of statistical methods can have a major impact on the way empirical research is implemented. However, so far there is limited evidence of the replicability of simulation studies. Eight highly cited statistical simulation studies were selected, and their replicability was assessed by teams of replicators with formal training in quantitative methodology. The teams used information in the original publications to write simulation code with the aim of replicating the results. The primary outcome was to determine the feasibility of replicability based on reported information in the original publications and supplementary materials. Replicasility varied greatly: some original studies provided detailed information leading to almost perfect replication of results, whereas other studies did not provide enough information to implement any of the reported simulations. Factors facilitating replication included availability of code, detailed reporting or visualization of data-generating procedures and methods, and replicator expertise. Replicability of statistical simulation studies was mainly impeded by lack of information and sustainability of information sources. We encourage researchers publishing simulation studies to transparently report all relevant implementation details either in the research paper itself or in easily accessible supplementary material and to make their simulation code publicly available using permanent links.
Climate change is associated with asynchrony in arrival between two sympatric cuckoos and both host arrival and prey emergence
Authors: Mikula Peter , Askeyev Oleg V. , Askeyev Arthur O. , Askeyev Igor V. , Morelli Federico , Menzel Annette , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: January 2024

Matching the timing of spring arrival to the breeding grounds with hosts and prey is crucial for migratory brood parasites such as cuckoos. Previous studies have focused mostly on phenological mismatch between a single cuckoo species and its hosts but information regarding climate-driven mismatch between multiple sympatric cuckoo species and their hosts and invertebrate prey is still lacking. Here, we analysed long-term data (1988–2023) on the first arrival date of two declining migratory cuckoo species and their 14 migratory host species breeding in sympatry and prey emergence date in Tatarstan (southeast Russia). We found that the common cuckoo (
Cuculus canorus
; wintering in Africa) generally arrived on breeding grounds earlier than the oriental cuckoo (
Cuculus optatus
; wintering in southeast Asia and Australia). Both cuckoos have advanced their arrival dates over 36 years but less than their hosts, potentially resulting in an increasing arrival mismatch between cuckoos and their hosts. Moreover, cuckoo arrival advanced less than the emergence date of their prey over time. These observations indicate that climate change may disrupt co-fluctuation in the phenology of important life stages between multiple sympatric brood parasites, their hosts and prey with potential cascading consequences for population dynamics of involved species.
Misalignment of plastic and evolutionary responses of lifespan to novel carbohydrate diets
Authors: Narayan Vikram P. , Wasana Nidarshani , Wilson Alastair J. , Chenoweth Stephen F.
Published: January 2024

Diet elicits varied effects on longevity across a wide range of animal species where dietary discordance between an organisms' evolutionary and developmental dietary history is increasingly recognized to play a critical role in shaping lifespan. However, whether such changes, predominantly assessed in a single generation, lead to evolutionary shifts in lifespan remains unclear. In this study, we used an experimental evolution approach to test whether changes in an organisms' evolutionary and developmental dietary history, specifically carbohydrate content, causes lifespan evolution in
Drosophila serrata
. After 30 generations, we investigated the evolutionary potential of lifespan in response to four novel diets that varied systematically in their ratio of carbohydrate–protein content. We also examined developmental plasticity effects using a set of control populations that were raised on the four novel environments allowing us to assess the extent to which plastic responses of lifespan mirrored adaptive responses observed following experimental evolution. Both high- and low-carbohydrate diets elicited plastic effects on lifespan; however, the plastic responses for lifespan to developmental diets bore little resemblance to the evolved responses on evolutionary diets. Understanding the dietary conditions regulating the match/mismatch of plastic and evolved responses will be important in determining whether a particular match/mismatch combination is adaptive for lifespan. While the differences in evolutionary diet by developmental diet interactions are only beginning to be elucidated, this study lays the foundation for future investigations of carbohydrate contributions to evolved and plastic effects on health and lifespan.
Cool-edge populations of the kelp
Ecklonia radiata
under global ocean change scenarios: strong sensitivity to ocean warming but little effect of ocean acidification
Authors: Britton Damon , Layton Cayne , Mundy Craig N. , Brewer Elizabeth A. , Gaitán-Espitia Juan Diego , Beardall John , Raven John A. , Hurd Catriona L.
Published: January 2024

Kelp forests are threatened by ocean warming, yet effects of co-occurring drivers such as CO
2
are rarely considered when predicting their performance in the future. In Australia, the kelp
Ecklonia radiata
forms extensive forests across seawater temperatures of approximately 7–26°C. Cool-edge populations are typically considered more thermally tolerant than their warm-edge counterparts but this ignores the possibility of local adaptation. Moreover, it is unknown whether elevated CO
2
can mitigate negative effects of warming. To identify whether elevated CO
2
could improve thermal performance of a cool-edge population of
E. radiata
, we constructed thermal performance curves for growth and photosynthesis, under both current and elevated CO
2
(approx. 400 and 1000 µatm). We then modelled annual performance under warming scenarios to highlight thermal susceptibility. Elevated CO
2
had minimal effect on growth but increased photosynthesis around the thermal optimum. Thermal optima were approximately 16°C for growth and approximately 18°C for photosynthesis, and modelled performance indicated cool-edge populations may be vulnerable in the future. Our findings demonstrate that elevated CO
2
is unlikely to offset negative effects of ocean warming on the kelp
E. radiata
and highlight the potential susceptibility of cool-edge populations to ocean warming.
Extreme heat reduces host and parasite performance in a butterfly–parasite interaction
Authors: Ragonese Isabella G. , Sarkar Maya R. , Hall Richard J. , Altizer Sonia
Published: January 2024

Environmental temperature fundamentally shapes insect physiology, fitness and interactions with parasites. Differential climate warming effects on host versus parasite biology could exacerbate or inhibit parasite transmission, with far-reaching implications for pollination services, biocontrol and human health. Here, we experimentally test how controlled temperatures influence multiple components of host and parasite fitness in monarch butterflies (
Danaus plexippus
) and their protozoan parasites
Ophryocystis elektroscirrha
. Using five constant-temperature treatments spanning 18–34°C, we measured monarch development, survival, size, immune function and parasite infection status and intensity. Monarch size and survival declined sharply at the hottest temperature (34°C), as did infection probability, suggesting that extreme heat decreases both host and parasite performance. The lack of infection at 34°C was not due to greater host immunity or faster host development but could instead reflect the thermal limits of parasite invasion and within-host replication. In the context of ongoing climate change, temperature increases above current thermal maxima could reduce the fitness of both monarchs and their parasites, with lower infection rates potentially balancing negative impacts of extreme heat on future monarch abundance and distribution.
Females smell differently: characteristics and significance of the most common olfactory sensilla of female silkmoths
Authors: Schuh Elisa , Cassau Sina , Ismaieel Ahmed R. , Stieber Regina , Krieger Jürgen , Hansson Bill S. , Sachse Silke , Bisch-Knaden Sonja
Published: January 2024

In the silkmoth
Bombyx mori
, the role of male sensilla trichodea in pheromone detection is well established. Here we study the corresponding female sensilla, which contain two olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and come in two lengths, each representing a single physiological type. Only OSNs in medium trichoids respond to the scent of mulberry, the silkworm's exclusive host plant, and are more sensitive in mated females, suggesting a role in oviposition. In long trichoids, one OSN is tuned to (+)-linalool and the other to benzaldehyde and isovaleric acid, both odours emitted by silkworm faeces. While the significance of (+)-linalool detection remains unclear, isovaleric acid repels mated females and may therefore play a role in avoiding crowded oviposition sites. When we examined the underlying molecular components of neurons in female trichoids, we found non-canonical co-expression of
Ir8a
, the co-receptor for acid responses, and
ORco
, the co-receptor of odorant receptors, in long trichoids, and the unexpected expression of a specific odorant receptor in both trichoid sensillum types. In addition to elucidating the function of female trichoids, our results suggest that some accepted organizational principles of the insect olfactory system may not apply to the predominant sensilla on the antenna of female
B. mori
.
Bioconversion of nutrient and phytoestrogen constituents during the
solid-state fermentation of soybeans by mycelia of Tricholoma
matsutake
Authors: Lee Hee Yul , Cho Kye Man , Joo Ok Soo
Published: January 2024

The findings of this study confirmed the alteration of
β-glucosidase activity, nutritional constituents,
isoflavones, antioxidant activities, and digestive enzyme inhibition activities
in soybeans during solid-state fermentation times with mycelia of
Tricholoma matsutake. After nine days, the highest activity
level was observed for β-glucosidase (3.90 to 38.89
unit/g) and aglycones (163.03 to 1,074.28 μg/g). The sum
of isoflavones showed a significant decrease (3,489.41 to 1,325.66
μg/g) along with glycosides (2,753.87 to 212.43
μg/g) for fermentation, while fatty acids showed a
slight increase and amino acids showed a marked increase. Total phenolic and
flavonoid contents showed a corresponding increase according to fermentation
times (5.58 to 15.09 GAE mg/g; 0.36 to 1.58 RE mg/g). Antioxidant and enzyme
inhibition activities also increased; in particular, the highest level of
scavenging activities was observed for ABTS (up 60.13 to 82.08%),
followed by DPPH (up 63.92% to 71.98%) and hydroxyl (up 36.01 to
52.02%) radicals. Of particular interest,
α-glucosidase (6.69 to 83.49%) and pancreatic
lipase inhibition (1.22 to 77.43%) showed a marked increase. These
results demonstrated that fermentation of soybeans with the mycelia of
T. matsutake enhanced the nutritional and functional
constituents, and the biological activities of soybeans. Thus, this fermentation
technology can be used to produce a novel functional materials from
soybeans.
Changes in the volatile aromatic compounds and amino acid contents
of distilled soju using co-fermentation by
Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hanseniaspora
uvarum yeasts
Authors: Choi Kyu-Taek , Park Chun-Woo , Lee Su-Hyun , Lee Ye-Na , Oh Ji-Yun , Choi Jun-Su , Choe Deokyeong , Lee Sae-Byuk
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to apply the technology of increasing the volatile aromatic
compounds in wine through mixed fermentation of Saccharomyces
cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces yeasts to make
distilled soju. The expectation was to induce changes in
metabolites such as volatile aromatic compounds before the distillation process,
followed by concentrating these compounds through distillation to enhance the
odor property of distilled soju. Additionally, the study aimed
to examine the impact of mixed fermentation with S. cerevisiae
and non-Saccharomyces yeasts on distilled soju’s free
amino acid content. As a result, when Hanseniaspora uvarum
yeast was used, there was an increase in the content of low molecular weight
volatile aroma compounds, particularly esters. Distilled soju
co-fermented with S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum
SJ69 exhibited similar amino acid content to distilled soju
single-fermented with S. cerevisiae. However, distilled
soju co-fermented with S. cerevisiae and
H. uvarum S6, a decrease in amino acid content. Sensory
evaluation results indicated a higher odor score in distilled
soju co-fermented with S. cerevisiae and
H. uvarum S6, suggesting that the mixed fermentation
technology utilizing H. uvarum could contribute to improving
the quality of distilled soju in the future.
Influence of cell-wall degrading enzyme treatment and
Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation on the
antioxidant and antibacterial activities of green tea leaf
Authors: Lim Dong-Wook , Lee Ga-Yang , Jung Min-Jeong , Kim Byoung-Mok , Jun Joon-Young
Published: January 2024

This study was conducted to suggest an extraction method for preparing the
extract from green tea leaves that possess enhanced antioxidant and
antibacterial activities. Different ethanol concentrations were tested to
recover phenolics and flavonoids, and 50% ethanol was the best under heat
treatment (121°C, 15 min). The ethanol extract exhibited excellent DPPH
(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and growth
inhibition against B. cereus, B. licheniformis, S. aureus subsp. aureus, and A.
hydrophila subsp. hydrophila. To enhance the antioxidant and antibacterial
activities, cell-wall degrading enzymes (2.5% cellulose +
2.5% pectinase, v/w dry sample) treatment and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
fermentation were applied singly or in combination. The enzymatic treatment of
green tea leaves notably increased extraction yield. However, the antioxidant
and antibacterial activities of the extract were lower than those of the control
(heat-treated 50% ethanol extract). In contrast, the yeast fermentation
alone did not affect the yield, but enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial
activities, contributing to the increase in the extract’s total phenolic
and flavonoid contents.
Characteristics of Leuconostoc spp. isolated from
radish kimchi and its immune enhancement
effect
Authors: Kwak Seoyeon , Yoo Seongeui , Park Jieon , Jeong Woosoo , Gwon Hee-Min , Yeo Soo-Hwan , Kim So-Young
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of
Leuconostoc spp. isolated from radish
kimchi and to investigate the potential for the use of
functional ingredients by evaluating enzymatic characteristics, safety, and
immune-enhancing effects among the isolates, including Lactobacillus
rhamnosus ATCC53103 (LGG) as a control strain. All test strains
exhibited β-glucosidase enzyme activity that releases
β-1,4 sugar chain bonds. In addition, as a result of
antibiotic resistance assay among the isolates, MIC values on 8 antibiotics were
below compared to the EFSA standard, and hemolytic experiments confirmed that
all showed gamma hemolysis without hemolytic ability. As a result of the
antibacterial activity experiment, the Leu. mesenteroides K2-4
strain showed a higher activity than LGG against Bacillus
cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally,
the activity of the NF-kB/AP-1 transcription factor increased when the isolates
were treated in macrophage RAW cells. These results were related to increasing
the high mRNA expression levels on TNF-α and IL-6 by
Leu. mesenteroides K2-4 strain to be treated at low
concentration. Consequently, we suggest that it will be useful as a candidate
for functional food ingredients.
Kufor-Rakeb Syndrome-Associated Psychosis: A Novel Loss-of-FunctionATP13A2Variant and Response to Treatment
Authors: Colijn Mark , Vrijsen Stephanie , Au Ping Yee Billie , El Asrar Rania Abu , Houdou Marine , Van den haute Chris , Sarna Justyna , Montgomery Greg , Vangheluwe Peter
Published: January 2024

Biallelic (autosomal recessive) pathogenic variants in ATP13A2 cause a form of juvenile-onset parkinsonism, termed Kufor-Rakeb syndrome. In addition to motor symptoms, a variety of other neurological and psychiatric symptoms may occur in affected individuals, including supranuclear gaze palsy, spasticity, and cognitive decline. Although psychotic symptoms are often reported, response to antipsychotic therapy is not well described in previous case reports/series. As such, we describe treatment response in an individual with Kufor-Rakeb syndrome-associated psychosis. His disease was caused by a homozygous novel loss-of-function ATP13A2 variant (NM_022089.4, c.1970_1975del) that was characterized in this study. Our patient exhibited a good response to quetiapine monotherapy, which he has so far tolerated well. We also reviewed the literature and summarized all previous descriptions of antipsychotic treatment response. Although its use has infrequently been described in Kufor-Rakeb syndrome, quetiapine is commonly used in other degenerative parkinsonian disorders, given its lower propensity to cause extrapyramidal symptoms. As such, quetiapine should be considered in the treatment of Kufor-Rakeb syndrome-associated psychosis, when antipsychotic therapy is deemed necessary.
DR-GPT: a large language model for medical report analysis of diabetic retinopathy patients
Authors: Jaskari Joel , Sahlsten Jaakko , Summanen Paula , Moilanen Jukka , Lehtola Erika , Aho Marjo , Säpyskä Elina , Hietala Kustaa , Kaski Kimmo
Published: January 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening condition caused by diabetes. Screening programmes for DR include eye examinations, where the patient’s fundi are photographed, and the findings, including DR severity, are recorded in the medical report. However, statistical analyses based on DR severity require structured labels that calls for laborious manual annotation process if the report format is unstructured. In this work, we propose a large language model DR-GPT for classification of the DR severity from unstructured medical reports. On a clinical set of medical reports, DR-GPT reaches 0.975 quadratic weighted Cohen’s kappa using truncated Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale. When DR-GPT annotations for unlabeled data are paired with corresponding fundus images, the additional data improves image classifier performance with statistical significance. Our analysis shows that large language models can be applied for unstructured medical report databases to classify diabetic retinopathy with a variety of applications.
Bacterial exonuclease III expands its enzymatic activities on single-stranded DNA
Authors: Wang Hao , Ye Chen , Lu Qi , Jiang Zhijie , Jiang Chao , Zhou Chun , Li Na , Zhang Caiqiao , Zhao Guoping , Yue Min , Li Yan
Published: January 2024

Bacterial exonuclease III (ExoIII), widely acknowledged for specifically targeting double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), has been documented as a DNA repair-associated nuclease with apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)-endonuclease and 3′→5′ exonuclease activities. Due to these enzymatic properties, ExoIII has been broadly applied in molecular biosensors. Here, we demonstrate that ExoIII (Escherichia coli) possesses highly active enzymatic activities on ssDNA. By using a range of ssDNA fluorescence-quenching reporters and fluorophore-labelled probes coupled with mass spectrometry analysis, we found ExoIII cleaved the ssDNA at 5′-bond of phosphodiester from 3′ to 5′ end by both exonuclease and endonuclease activities. Additional point mutation analysis identified the critical residues for the ssDNase action of ExoIII and suggested the activity shared the same active center with the dsDNA-targeted activities of ExoIII. Notably, ExoIII could also digest the dsDNA structures containing 3′-end ssDNA. Considering most ExoIII-assisted molecular biosensors require the involvement of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or nucleic acid aptamer containing ssDNA, the activity will lead to low efficiency or false positive outcome. Our study revealed the multi-enzymatic activity and the underlying molecular mechanism of ExoIII on ssDNA, illuminating novel insights for understanding its biological roles in DNA repair and the rational design of ExoIII-ssDNA involved diagnostics.
Utilizing Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models in the Diagnosis and Prediction of Infectious Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Omar Mahmud , Brin Dana , Glicksberg Benjamin , Klang Eyal
Published: January 2024

Background

Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs) hold largely untapped potential in infectious disease management. This review explores their current use and uncovers areas needing more attention.

Methods

This analysis followed systematic review procedures, registered with PROSPERO. We conducted a search across major databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, up to December 2023, using keywords related to NLP, LLM, and infectious diseases. We also employed the QUADAS-2 tool for evaluating the quality and robustness of the included studies.

Results

Our review identified 15 studies with diverse applications of NLP in infectious disease management. Notable examples include GPT-4’s application in detecting urinary tract infections and BERTweet’s use in Lyme Disease surveillance through social media analysis. These models demonstrated effective disease monitoring and public health tracking capabilities. However, the effectiveness varied across studies. For instance, while some NLP tools showed high accuracy in pneumonia detection and high sensitivity in identifying invasive mold diseases from medical reports, others fell short in areas like bloodstream infection management.

Conclusion

This review highlights the yet-to-be-fully-realized promise of NLP and LLMs in infectious disease management. It calls for more exploration to fully harness AI’s capabilities, particularly in the areas of diagnosis, surveillance, predicting disease courses, and tracking epidemiological trends.
Leveraging Multi-Echo EPI to Enhance BOLD Sensitivity in Task-based Olfactory fMRI
Authors: Zhao Ludwig Sichen , Raithel Clara U. , Tisdall M. Dylan , Detre John A. , Gottfried Jay A.
Published: January 2024

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast relies on gradient echo echo-planar imaging (GE-EPI) to quantify dynamic susceptibility changes associated with the hemodynamic response to neural activity. However, acquiring BOLD fMRI in human olfactory regions is particularly challenging due to their proximity to the sinuses where large susceptibility gradients induce magnetic field distortions. BOLD fMRI of the human olfactory system is further complicated by respiratory artifacts that are highly correlated with event onsets in olfactory tasks.

Multi-echo EPI (ME-EPI) acquires gradient echo data at multiple echo times (TEs) during a single acquisition and can leverage signal evolution over the multiple echo times to enhance BOLD sensitivity and reduce artifactual signal contributions. In the current study, we developed a ME-EPI acquisition protocol for olfactory task-based fMRI and demonstrated significant improvement in BOLD signal sensitivity over conventional single-echo EPI (1E-EPI). The observed improvement arose from both an increase in BOLD signal changes through aT2*-weighted echo combination and a reduction in non-BOLD artifacts through the application of the Multi-Echo Independent Components Analysis (ME-ICA) denoising method. This study represents one of the first direct comparisons between 1E-EPI and ME-EPI in high-susceptibility regions and provides compelling evidence in favor of using ME-EPI for future task-based fMRI studies.
Staphylococcus aureuscounters organic acid anion-mediated inhibition of peptidoglycan cross-linking through robust alanine racemase activity
Authors: Panda Sasmita , Jayasinghe Yahani P. , Shinde Dhananjay D. , Bueno Emilio , Stastny Amanda , Bertrand Blake P. , Chaudhari Sujata S. , Kielian Tammy , Cava Felipe , Ronning Donald R. , Thomas Vinai C.
Published: January 2024

Weak organic acids are commonly found in host niches colonized by bacteria, and they can inhibit bacterial growth as the environment becomes acidic. This inhibition is often attributed to the toxicity resulting from the accumulation of high concentrations of organic anions in the cytosol, which disrupts cellular homeostasis. However, the precise cellular targets that organic anions poison and the mechanisms used to counter organic anion intoxication in bacteria have not been elucidated. Here, we utilize acetic acid, a weak organic acid abundantly found in the gut to investigate its impact on the growth ofStaphylococcus aureus. We demonstrate that acetate anions bind to and inhibit D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase (Ddl) activity inS. aureus. Ddl inhibition reduces intracellular D-alanyl-D-alanine (D-Ala-D-Ala) levels, compromising staphylococcal peptidoglycan cross-linking and cell wall integrity. To overcome the effects of acetate-mediated Ddl inhibition,S. aureusmaintains a substantial intracellular D-Ala pool through alanine racemase (Alr1) activity and additionally limits the flux of D-Ala to D-glutamate by controlling D-alanine aminotransferase (Dat) activity. Surprisingly, themodus operandiof acetate intoxication inS. aureusis common to multiple biologically relevant weak organic acids indicating that Ddl is a conserved target of small organic anions. These findings suggest thatS. aureusmay have evolved to maintain high intracellular D-Ala concentrations, partly to counter organic anion intoxication.

Significance

Under mildly acidic conditions, weak organic acids like acetic acid accumulate to high concentrations within the cytosol as organic anions. However, the physiological consequence of organic anion accumulation is poorly defined. Here we investigate how the acetate anion impactsS. aureus. We show that acetate anions directly bind Ddl and inhibit its activity. The resulting decrease in intracellular D-Ala-D-Ala pools impacts peptidoglycan integrity. Since acetate is a weak inhibitor of Ddl, mechanisms that maintain a high intracellular D-Ala pools are sufficient to counter the effect of acetate-mediated Ddl inhibition inS. aureus.
The threshold for intracranial self-stimulation does not increase in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress - a systematic review and meta–analysis
Authors: Berrio Jenny P. , Wilzopolski Jenny , Hohlbaum Katharina , Kalliokoski Otto
Published: January 2024

The chronic unpredictable stress model is a laboratory rodent model of stress-induced anhedonia. The sucrose preference test, often used to validate it, suffers from being unreliable. Intracranial self-stimulation offers an alternative and is often cited as supporting evidence of the validity of the model. Our aim was to assess whether an increased self-stimulation threshold is found after stress and if such a change correlates with decreases in sweet consumption. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for studies in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress that employed intracranial self-stimulation. Thresholds, for stressed and control animals, in 23 experiments (11 studies) were pooled. Over 50% of the data was contributed by one research group, so a three-level meta-analytical random effects model was fit to account for methodological differences between different networks of researchers. After this adjustment, we did not find that the self-stimulation thresholds were increased in stressed rats. Pioneering experiments with positive results failed to be replicated by others, although no specific factor could be pointed to as a likely explanation. What is more, the available evidence suggests a lack of connection between sweet preference and self-stimulation, although this relationship has been seldom investigated. Methods known to mitigate biases were frequently absent, as was a transparent report of crucial study details. Our findings challenge the claim made in support of the validity of the model. Further efforts would be well-invested in assessing how reliably other tests of anhedonia have found the effects of the chronic unpredictable stress model.
Fusion of blood vessel organoids with human pancreatic islets improves insulin response over time
Authors: Tubbs Emily , Mehanovic Mahira , Lopes Mélanie , Quintard Clément , Combe Stéphanie , Armanet Mathieu , Domet Thomas , Sabatier Julia , Granziera Sabrina , Penninger Josef , Freida Delphine , Gidrol Xavier
Published: January 2024

Pancreatic islet transplantation is a promising treatment strategy for type 1 diabetes, however there are still major challenges to overcome, including vascularization. Novel strategies for the generation of prevascularized islets with native microvessels have reported improved islet functionality, vascularization and engraftment emphasizing integral role of microvascular bed. Recently a new model of self-organizing three-dimensional human blood vessel organoids (BVOs) has been developed from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), composed of both endothelial and mural cells. BVO recapitulate key features of human microvasculature such as formation of vascular network, vascular lumen and basement membrane, and have been shown to be perfusable. Here, we report a new strategy to construct prevascularized islets by fusion with hPSC-derived BVOs. We demonstrate that islets and BVOs in co-culture leads to fusion and improved insulin secretion over time, on two independent human islet donors, suggesting a new therapeutic approach for pancreatic islet transplantation and type 1 diabetes modeling.