bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting functional outcomes of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage based on explainable machine learning models: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Pan Bin , Li Fengda , Liu Chuanghong , Li Zeyi , Sun Chengfa , Xia Kaijian , Xu Hong , Kong Gang , Gu Longyuan , Cheng Kaiyuan
Published: January 2025

Background

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) is the second most common cause of cerebrovascular disease after ischemic stroke, with high mortality and disability rates, imposing a significant economic burden on families and society. This retrospective study aimed to develop and evaluate an interpretable machine learning model to predict functional outcomes 3 months after SICH.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 380 patients with SICH who were hospitalized at three different centers between June 2020 and June 2023. Seventy percent of the samples were randomly selected as the training set, while the remaining 30% were used as the validation set. Univariate analysis, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to screen clinical variables. The selected variables were then incorporated into five machine learning models: complementary naive bayes (CNB), support vector machine (SVM), gaussian naive bayes (GNB), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB), to assess their performance. Additionally, the area under the curve (AUC) values were evaluated to compare the performance of each algorithmic model, and global and individual interpretive analyses were conducted using importance ranking and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP).

Results

Among the 380 patients, 95 ultimately had poor prognostic outcomes. In the validation set, the AUC values for CNB, SVM, GNB, MLP, and XGB models were 0.899 (0.816–0.979), 0.916 (0.847–0.982), 0.730 (0.602–0.857), 0.913 (0.834–0.986), and 0.969 (0.937–0.998), respectively. Therefore, the XGB model performed the best among the five algorithms. SHAP analysis revealed that the GCS score, hematoma volume, blood pressure changes, platelets, age, bleeding location, and blood glucose levels were the most important variables for poor prognosis.

Conclusion

The XGB model developed in this study can effectively predict the risk of poor prognosis in patients with SICH, helping clinicians make personalized and rational clinical decisions. Prognostic risk in patients with SICH is closely associated with GCS score, hematoma volume, blood pressure changes, platelets, age, bleeding location, and blood glucose levels.
Hypophysectomy, pituitary neuroadenolysis and pituitary radiosurgery for the treatment of refractory cancer pain: a historical review and mechanism investigation
Authors: Hu Yuchen , Zhang Wanghao , Chen Zijian , Wu Xiaoyan , Xue Shuaishuai , Mao Yangqi , Yi Peiyao , Wei Jiezuo , Qian Dadi , Wang Xingqin , Zhang Peidong , Long Hao
Published: January 2025

Refractory cancer pain affects 10–20% of patients with advanced malignancies and is not adequately controlled by opioids. The intrathecal therapy is an effective interventional procedure for referral, but the implanted infusion pumps are costly and the refilling requires technical expertise. Hypophysectomy, in its three stages—surgical, chemical, and radiosurgical—has emerged as an alternative for managing this pain. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive, with existing hypotheses unable to comprehensively account for both the initial and long-term analgesic effects. This literature review explores the historical evolution, clinical outcomes, and hypothesized mechanisms of hypophysectomy for pain relief. Surgical hypophysectomy initially demonstrated an 85.5% success rate but carried significant risks like diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism. Chemical hypophysectomy reduced invasiveness, achieving 75.1% pain relief with fewer complications. Modern pituitary radiosurgery has improved safety while maintaining high efficacy (initial relief: 95.9%, long-term: 73.5%). The mechanisms underlying pain relief remain unclear but include tumor regression, increased β-endorphins, neuroendocrine modulation, and hypothalamic involvement. A new hypothesis suggests that radiosurgery induces hormone redistribution (e.g., oxytocin, vasopressin) through hypothalamic–pituitary modulation, contributing to both immediate and long-term analgesia. Despite its potential, unresolved issues such as optimal radiation dose, pain assessment standardization, and precise mechanisms limit widespread adoption. This review underscores the need for larger, homogenous studies to validate the safety and efficacy of hypophysectomy in treating refractory cancer pain. These findings offer a promising avenue for improving palliative care in oncology.
Serum metabolomic signatures of patients with rare neurogenetic diseases: an insight into potential biomarkers and treatment targets
Authors: Wijekoon Nalaka , Gonawala Lakmal , Ratnayake Pyara , Sirisena Darshana , Gunasekara Harsha , Dissanayake Athula , Amaratunga Dhammika , Steinbusch Harry W. M. , Hathout Yetrib , Hoffman Eric P. , Dalal Ashwin , Mohan Chandra , de Silva K. Ranil D.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

To further advance our understanding of Muscular Dystrophies (MDs) and Spinocerebellar Ataxias (SCAs), it is necessary to identify the biological patterns associated with disease pathology. Although progress has been made in the fields of genetics and transcriptomics, there is a need for proteomics and metabolomics studies. The present study aimed to be the first to document serum metabolic signatures of MDs (DMD, BMD, and LGMD 2A) SCAs (SCA 1-3), from a South Asian perspective.

Methods

A total of 28 patients (SCA 1-10, SCA 2-2, SCA 3-2, DMD-10, BMD-2, LGMD-2) and eight controls (aged 8–65 years) were included. Metabolomic analysis was performed by Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS), with support from the Houston Omics Collaborative.

Results and discussion

Amino acid metabolism was the primary altered super pathway in DMD followed by carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism. In contrast, BMD and LGMD 2A exhibited a more prominent alteration in lipid metabolism followed by amino acid metabolism. In SCAs, primarily lipid, amino acid, peptide, nucleotide, and xenobiotics pathways are affected. Our findings offer new insights into the variance of metabolite levels in MD and SCA, with substantial implications for pathology, drug development, therapeutic targets and clinical management. Intriguingly, this study identified two novel metabolites associated with SCA. This pilot cross-sectional study warrants further research involving larger groups of participants, to validate our findings.
Triglyceride-glucose index as a marker for visceral obesity in patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Zuo Junbo , Huang Zhenhua , Ge Yan , Ding Xin , Wang Xiuhua , Huang Yan
Published: January 2025

Background

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a validated and cost-effective indicator of insulin resistance (IR). Given the significant association between visceral obesity and IR, this study aimed to investigate the utility of the TyG index in estimating visceral obesity in patients with gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

The visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and VFA-to-SFA ratio (VSR) were determined through the analysis of CT images at the lumbar 3 level. The definition of visceral obesity was established as VFA ≥ 100 cm2. The association between the TyG index and visceral obesity was assessed using logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines. The diagnostic performance for identifying visceral obesity was evaluated by calculating the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (AUC).

Results

The cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 314 patients with GC, among whom 159 (50.64%) were identified as having visceral obesity. The TyG index was positively correlated with VFA (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), SFA (r = 0.23, p < 0.001), and VSR (r = 0.35, p < 0.001). However, subsequent multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that the TyG index was significantly associated with VFA and VSR, but not SFA. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the TyG index remained independently associated with visceral obesity (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.32–4.89, p = 0.005) and demonstrated a significantly positive linear correlation with visceral obesity in patients with GC (p-value for non-linearity = 0.116). TyG-BMI, the combination index of TyG and BMI, showed the highest predictive power in identifying visceral obesity in GC patients (AUC = 0.849, 95% CI: 0.807–0.890, p < 0.001). The subgroup analysis revealed a significantly stronger positive association between the TyG index and visceral obesity in patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (p for interaction = 0.049).

Conclusion

The TyG index exhibited a significant association with visceral obesity and proved to be a valuable predictor for visceral obesity when combined with BMI in patients with GC.
Antin-diabetic cognitive dysfunction effects and underpinning mechanisms of phytogenic bioactive peptides: a review
Authors: Liu Xiaoli , Mao Shenglian , Yuan Yuxue , Wang Zilin , Tian Yang , Tao Liang , Dai Jiahe
Published: January 2025

Diabetic cognitive dysfunction is one of the important comorbidities and complications of diabetes, which is mainly manifested by loss of learning ability and memory, behavioural disorders, and may even develop into dementia. While traditional anti-diabetic medications are effective in improving cognition and memory, long-term use of these medications can be accompanied by undesirable side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safe and effective alternative therapies. Accumulating evidence suggests that phytogenic bioactive peptides play an important role in the regulation of cognitive dysfunction in diabetes. In this review, we explored the relationship between diabetes mellitus and cognitive dysfunction, and the potential and underlying mechanisms of plant-derived bioactive peptides to improve diabetic cognitive dysfunction. We found that plant-derived active peptides alleviate diabetic cognitive impairment by inhibiting key enzymes (e.g., α-glucosidase, α-amylase) to improve blood glucose levels and increase antioxidant activity, modulate inflammatory mediators, and address intestinal dysbiosis. In conclusion, plant-derived active peptides show strong potential to improve diabetic cognitive impairment.
Valine metabolite, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, promotes lipid metabolism and cell proliferation in porcine mammary gland epithelial cells
Authors: Che Long , Liu Le , Xu Mengmeng , Fan Zongze , Niu Lizhu , Chen Yujie , Chang Xueyuan , Zhou Pan , Li Mengyun , Deng Hongyu , Chen Wen
Published: January 2025

Improving mammary gland epithelial cells proliferation through nutrition is an important approach for enhancing sow milk production and piglet growth. An intermediate metabolite of valine, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate (3-HIB), regulates cellular lipid metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3-HIB on porcine mammary gland epithelial cells proliferation and lipid metabolism. The addition of an appropriate concentration of 3-HIB significantly increased mammary gland epithelial cell proliferation and the expression of proteins associated with cell proliferation. Compared to the control group, the addition of 0.4–0.8 mM 3-HIB increased the expression levels of mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins and the cell cycle protein, Cyclin D1, while inhibiting the expression of the cell cycle arrest protein, P27. The addition of 0.8 mM 3-HIB increased the triglyceride and lipid droplet content in the cells. The addition of 3-HIB increased the expression of proteins related to de novo fatty acid synthesis and transport, resulting in a marked increase in most polyunsaturated fatty acids in the 3-HIB-added group. Compared to the control group, the addition of 0.8 mM 3-HIB increased the expression levels of the fatty acid oxidation-related proteins, ACSL and CAD, ultimately increasing cellular ATP synthesis. In summary, the addition of 0.8 mM 3-HIB to porcine mammary gland epithelial cells promotes cell proliferation by enhancing lipid metabolism and the expression of cell proliferation-related proteins.
Survival analysis of recurrent ovarian cancer under different PARP inhibitor treatment patterns: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Shen Jingtian , Wang Xi , Mpano Olivier , Wang Ying , Shan Yihan , Lou Xinning , Ye Piaopiao , Yan Xiaojian
Published: January 2025

Objective

To compare the effects of different treatment modes containing PARPis and traditional treatment modes on the survival of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods

From December 2012 to December 2023, 131 recurrent ovarian cancer patients were screened. The patients were followed up retrospectively, and the relevant data was collected and analyzed.

Results

Eighty-three patients used PARPis throughout the treatment process, and the median OS was not reached. Forty-eight patients did not use PARPis, and the median OS was 45.4 months. The two groups ‘ BRCA gene status, NACT, postoperative residual disease status, and PFI differ (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in recurrence characteristics between the PARPis use and non-use groups in first-line maintenance therapy (P < 0.05). The use of PARPis, CA125 level and PFI were the independent influencing factors of OS in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (P < 0.05). The median OS of patients with PARPis maintenance treatment in the single-line, second-line and last-line has not been reached. The median OS in the multi-line group was 69.5 months.

Conclusion

The use of PARPis, CA125 level and PFI were independent influencing factors of OS in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. The first-line maintenance use of PARPis will not cause differences in disease recurrence characteristics. Compared with the patients without PARPis, patients with recurrent ovarian cancer receiving PARPis maintenance therapy have longer OS. The group of patients with PARPis maintenance treatment in the second and last lines showed better OS (P < 0.05). However, OS was not significantly different between the second-line and last-line groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in OS between the multiple-line use PARPis and single-line use PARPis groups.
CA19-9-related macrophage polarization drives poor prognosis in HCC after immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment
Authors: Du Tingting , Zou Jialin , Yang Yunying , Xie Honghui , Pang Hui , Zhuang Wenquan , Wang Shutong , Wei Guangyan
Published: January 2025

Background

Elevated levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels are known to worsen outcomes in various tumors by influencing immune responses. However, the role of CA19-9 in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poorly understood.

Methods

This study included 621 patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2017 to March 2023. During immunotherapy, CA19-9 levels were measured and classified as either elevated (≥35 U/mL) or normal (<35 U/mL) for clinical analysis.

Results

Patients with elevated CA19-9 levels had significantly worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The 1-year and 2-year PFS rates were 53.3% and 29.1% in the normal CA19-9 group compared to 16.9% and 11.3% in the elevated group (p < 0.001). Similarly, the 1-year and 2-year OS rates were 90.5% and 75.5% in the normal group versus 64.0% and 36.5% in the elevated group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed CA19-9 was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that FUT3, a key gene in CA19-9 synthesis, correlated with increased macrophage infiltration. And increased M2 macrophage levels and reduced M1 macrophage levels were noted in HCC samples with elevated CA19-9 levels. Further in vivo experiments indicated blocking CA19-9 improved the efficacy of PD-1 treatment through inducing the M1-like polarization of macrophages.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that elevated CA19-9 levels during immunotherapy are associated with poor survival outcomes in HCC patients. These findings highlight the crucial role of CA19-9 in shaping the tumor immune environment, particularly through its effect on macrophage polarization, and suggest that targeting CA19-9 may improve immunotherapy outcomes.
Case Report: Combination of sirolimus and endoscopic lauromacrogol sclerotherapy in the management of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome with gastric tract bleeding
Authors: Liu Lu , Wang Liyuan , Hu Fan
Published: January 2025

Background

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare venous malformation disorder. Currently, there is no standard therapy for this disease. However, lauromacrogol, a sclerosant extensively utilized in the management of vascular malformations, has been applied in the treatment of BRBNS. Research on the combined therapy of sirolimus and lauromacrogol for the treatment of BRBNS remains limited.

Case summary

Here, we report the case of a 12-year-old girl diagnosed with BRBNS. The patient presented with chronic anemia and skin “hemangioma.” The examinations showed severe anemia, along with decreased serum iron and ferritin levels. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal nodular lesions in various parts of the intestine. The patient was treated with a combination of endoscopic sclerotherapy using lauromacrogol and oral sirolimus. After 1 year of treatment, the patient showed no signs of anemia or gastrointestinal tract bleeding.

Conclusion

BRBNS is a rare disorder that is often misdiagnosed, especially by inexperienced pediatricians. The combination of oral sirolimus with endoscopic lauromacrogol has demonstrated efficacy in reducing lesion size and elevating hemoglobin levels.
Case Report: Baricitinib improved alopecia areata in a pediatric patient with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Wang Sihan , Xu Ziqian , Zhu Xiaoxia , Fan Xin , Yu Yingzhe , Lin Bingjiang , Xu Suling
Published: January 2025

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common non-scarring hair loss condition whose specific pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. In children, AA often co-occurs with atopic dermatitis (AD), complicating treatment. Here, we report the case of a child with myasthenia gravis who had severe AA and moderate AD. The child had previously been treated with local injections of corticosteroids and developed total hair loss and AD after discontinuing corticosteroid use. After approximately one year of treatment with baricitinib, 4 mg once daily, combined with twice-daily application of a corticosteroid ointment, a significant improvement in the child's condition was observed, with the Severity of Alopecia Tool score dropping from 100 to 24.4 and Eczema Area Severity Index score to 0. New vellus hairs were clearly observable under trichoscopy, which contrasted significantly with the pre-treatment state. Throughout the treatment process, the patient's clinical symptoms, blood cell counts, liver and kidney function, and coagulation functions were essentially normal, with no significant adverse reactions observed except for folliculitis on the scalp. We discuss common targets in the pathogenesis of AA and AD as well as the safety and prospects of Janus kinase inhibitors for the treatment of pediatric patients with these conditions.
Overweight and glucose/lipid metabolism abnormality associated with SSRIs: a pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA adverse event reporting system
Authors: Cao Jinming , Chen Zhicong , Wang Yan , Ma Yunpeng , Yang Zhen , Cai Jian , Xiao Zhijun , Xu Feng
Published: January 2025

Background

In the past few decades, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) became widely used antidepressants worldwide. Therefore, the adverse reactions of patients after SSRI administration became a public and clinical concern. In this study, we conducted a pharmacovigilance study using the Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database of the US Food and Drug Administration. Our main goal was to evaluate adverse events related to SSRIs, with a particular focus on abnormal weight gain and glucose/lipid metabolism disorders.

Method

The adverse event data for representative SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline) was extracted from the FAERS database from 2004Q1 to 2023Q4. The reporting odds ratio and proportional reporting ratio were employed to explore relevant adverse event reports (ADEs) signals. Univariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to explore factors associated with glucose/lipid metabolism abnormality following SSRIs treatment.

Results

We identified 143,744 ADE reports associated with SSRIs and revealed significant abnormal signals related to weight gain and glucose/lipid metabolism in depressed patients. Variations were observed among different SSRIs medications. Specifically, citalopram was associated with abnormal weight gain (ROR: 4, 95% CI: 3.1-5.2) and hepatic steatosis (ROR: 2.8, 95% CI: 2.1-3.6); escitalopram was correlated with gestational diabetes (ROR: 9.1, 95% CI: 6.6-12.4) and cholestasis (ROR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.75-3.38); fluoxetine was associated with obesity (ROR: 2.8, 95% CI: 2.08-3.78); fluvoxamine was linked to arteriospasm coronary (ROR: 13.87, 95% CI: 4.47-43.1); and sertraline was implicated in neonatal jaundice (ROR: 16.1, 95% CI: 12.6-20.6). Females and younger age are important risk factors for the development of associated adverse effects.

Conclusion

Our study screened for adverse effects associated with abnormal glucose/lipid metabolism, such as abnormal body weight and fatty liver, in depressed patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors by utilizing FAERS database. This provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals in accepting and managing patients treated with SSRIs.
Time-lag effects of NEP and NPP to meteorological factors in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers
Authors: Zhang Hengshuo , Lv Xizhi , Ni Yongxin , Zhang Qiufen , Wang Jianwei , Ma Li
Published: January 2025

Vegetation productivity and ecosystem carbon sink capacity are significantly influenced by seasonal weather patterns. The time lags between changes in these patterns and ecosystem (including vegetation) responses is a critical aspect in vegetation-climate and ecosystem-climate interactions. These lags can vary considerably due to the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation and ecosystems. In this study focused on the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers (SCRYR), we utilized long-term datasets of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and model-estimated Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) from2015 to 2020, combined with reconstructed 8-day scale climate sequences, to conduct partial correlation regression analysis (isolating the influence of individual meteorological factors on the lag effects). The study found that the length of lag effects varies depending on regional topography, vegetation types, and the sensitivity of their ecological environments to changes in meteorological factors. In the source region of the Yangtze River (SCR), the lag times for NPP and NEP in response to temperature (Tem) are longer, compared to the source region of the Yellow River (SYR), where the lags are generally less than 10 days. The long lag effects of NPP with precipitation (Pre), ranging from 50 to 60 days, were primarily concentrated in the northwestern part of the SCR, while the long lag effects of NEP with precipitation, ranging from 34 to 48 days, covered a broad region in the western part of the study area. NPP exhibits the least sensitivity to changes in solar radiation (SR), with lag times exceeding 54 days in 99.30% of the region. In contrast, NEP showed varying lag effects with respect to SR: short lag effects (ranging from 0 to 15 days) were observed in carbon source areas, while long lag effects (ranging from 55 to 64 days) were evident in carbon sink areas. The sensitivity of vegetation to meteorological changes is highest for SVL, followed by C3A, PW, BDS, and C3 in descending order. This study examined the spatiotemporal impacts of climatic drivers on NPP and NEP from both vegetation and ecosystem perspectives. The findings are crucial for enhancing vegetation productivity and ecosystem carbon sequestration capacity at important water sources in China.
LWheatNet: a lightweight convolutional neural network with mixed attention mechanism for wheat seed classification
Authors: Guo Xiaojuan , Wang Jianping , Gao Guohong , Cheng Zihao , Qiao Zongjie , Zhang Ranran , Ma Zhanpeng , Wang Xing
Published: January 2025

Introduction

With the advent of technologies such as deep learning in agriculture, a novel approach to classifying wheat seed varieties has emerged. However, some existing deep learning models encounter challenges, including long processing times, high computational demands, and low classification accuracy when analyzing wheat seed images, which can hinder their ability to meet real-time requirements.

Methods

To address these challenges, we propose a lightweight wheat seed classification model called LWheatNet. This model integrates a mixed attention module with multiple stacked inverted residual convolutional networks. First, we introduce a mixed attention mechanism that combines channel attention and spatial attention in parallel. This approach enhances the feature representation of wheat seed images. Secondly, we design stacked inverted residual networks to extract features from wheat seed images. Each network consists of three core layers, with each core layer is comprising one downsampling unit and multiple basic units. To minimize model parameters and computational load without sacrificing performance, each unit utilizes depthwise separable convolutions, channel shuffle, and channel split techniques.

Results

To validate the effectiveness of the proposed model, we conducted comparative experiments with five classic network models: AlexNet, VGG16, MobileNet V2, MobileNet V3, and ShuffleNet V2. The results demonstrate that LWheatNet achieves the highest performance, with an accuracy of 98.59% on the test set and a model size of just 1.33 M. This model not only surpasses traditional CNN networks but also offers significant advantages for lightweight networks.

Discussion

The LWheatNet model proposed in this paper maintains high recognition accuracy while occupying minimal storage space. This makes it well-suited for real-time classification and recognition of wheat seed images on low-performance devices in the future.
Mitochondrial genome of Lonicera macranthoides: features, RNA editing, and insights into male sterility
Authors: Chen Zhong , Zhuo Wei , Wang Yuqi , Qi Junpeng , Liu Li , Lu Sheng’E. , Wang Han , Sun Tao , Wang Liqiang , Ren Fengming
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Mitochondria are essential organelles that provide energy for plants. They are semi-autonomous, maternally inherited, and closely linked to cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants. Lonicera macranthoides, a widely used medicinal plant from the Caprifoliaceae family, is rich in chlorogenic acid (CGA) and its analogues, which are known for their antiviral and anticancer properties. However, studies on the mitogenome of L. macranthoides still remain limited.

Methods

The mitochondrial DNA contained in the whole genome DNA was extracted from a male sterile cultivar of L. macranthoides, named ‘Yulei 1’. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation sequencing (TGS) technologies were combined to obtain the mitogenome. RNA editing events were identified by integrating the mitogenome data with RNA sequencing data from leaf, stem, and flower tissues. The potential causes of male sterility in ‘Yulei 1’ were analyzed based on the loss of functional genes, mitogenome rearrangements, RNA editing events, and open reading frames (ORFs).

Results and discussion

The complete mitogenome of L. macranthoides ‘Yulei 1’ was obtained for the first time, with a length of 1,002,202 bp. It contains 48 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 26 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. Additionally, 79 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 39 tandem repeats, and 99 dispersed repeats were identified. Among these, two direct repeats (RP1a/1b, RP2a/2b) and two inverse repeats (RP3a/b, RP4a/b) may facilitate mitogenome recombination. Gene transfer analysis revealed that 4.36% and 21.98% of mitogenomic sequences mapped to the chloroplast and nuclear genomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that L. macranthoides is closest to L. japonica at the mitogenome level. Notably, RNA editing events varied across different plant tissues, with 357 editing sites in 30 PCGs in leaves, 138 sites in 24 PCGs in flowers, and 68 sites in 13 PCGs in stems. Finally, all indications of CMS in the mitogenome were screened, including the detection of ORFs, and the findings showed no mutations in the mitogenome that would explain the sterility of ‘Yulei 1’. Overall, our study provides a complete mitogenome of L. macranthoides, which will aid in its genetic marker exploration, evolutionary relationship analysis, and breeding programs.
Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals the molecular mechanism of exogenous melatonin improves salt tolerance in eggplants
Authors: Wang Han , Zhang Yu , Jiang Haikun , Ding Qiangqiang , Wang Yan , Wang Mingxia , Yan Congsheng , Jia Li
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Melatonin significantly enhances the tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stress, and plays an important role in plant resistance to salt stress. However, its role and molecular mechanisms in eggplant salt stress resistance have been rarely reported. In previous studies, we experimentally demonstrated that melatonin can enhance the salt stress resistance of eggplants.

Methods

In this study, we treated salt-stressed eggplant plants with melatonin and a control treatment with water, then conducted physiological and biochemical tests, transcriptomic and metabolomic sequencing, and RT-qPCR validation at different stages after treatment.

Results

The results showed that exogenous melatonin can alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on plants by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reducing the content of reactive oxygen species in plants, and increasing the content of organic osmoprotectants. Transcriptomic and metabolomic data, as well as combined analysis, indicate that melatonin can activate the metabolic pathways of plant resistance to adverse stress. Compared to the control treatment with water, melatonin can activate the genes of the α-linolenic acid metabolism pathway and promote the accumulation of metabolites in this pathway, with significant effects observed 48 hours after treatment, and significantly activates the expression of genes such as SmePLA2, SmeLOXs and SmeOPR et al. and the accumulation of metabolites such as α-Linolenic acid, (9R,13R)-12-oxophytodienoic acid, 9(S)-HpOTrE and (+)-7-iso-Jasmonic acid. RT-qPCR validated the activating effect of melatonin on the candidate genes of the a-linolenic acid metabolism pathway.

Discussion

This study analyzed the molecular mechanism of melatonin in alleviating eggplant salt stress, providing a theoretical foundation for the application of melatonin in enhancing eggplant salt stress resistance in production.
Effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on fatigue in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hosseini Koukamari Parisa , Karimy Mahmood , Ghaffari Mohtasham , Milajerdi Alireza
Published: January 2025

Background

Fatigue is a prevalent issue among cancer patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an individualized intervention that empowers patients and caregivers to actively participate in the treatment process. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of CBT on fatigue in cancer patients.

Methods

Articles published up to April 2023 were systematically searched in Scopus, PubMed, and the Web of Science using relevant keywords. All randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of CBT on fatigue in cancer patients were included. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 14, with a significance level set at a p-value of <0.05.

Results

The current systematic review and meta-analysis encompasses 10 RCTs. CBT demonstrated a significant reduction in fatigue scores among cancer patients [standardized mean difference (WMD): −2.50; 95%CI: −3.43, −1.56; I2 = 95.8%, p < 0.001]. This effect was consistent across all subgroup analyses.

Conclusion

This study underscores the significant impact of CBT on fatigue in cancer patients. Further randomized clinical trials focusing on various cancer types are warranted to validate and build upon these findings.
Tax and noncommunicable diseases attributable to tobacco and alcohol consumption in 5 Sub-Saharan African countries
Authors: Moyo Machiru , Chirwa Gowokani Chijere , Nyirenda Thomas , Matanje Beatrice Lydia
Published: January 2025

Background

Increased taxation on alcohol and tobacco is among the cost-effective measures used to deal with the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally. Despite adopting such efforts, the impacts of taxation on alcohol and tobacco are yet to be fully understood.

Objective

The study's objective is to find empirical evidence regarding changes in the NCD mortality rate associated with changes in the tax rates of tobacco and alcohol.

Methods

The study adopted the System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) to explore the relationship between levels of taxes and NCD mortality rates. The SGMM allowed the inclusion of the dependent variable as an explanatory variable, assuming reverse causality was assumed.

Results

There appears to be a negative relationship between increased taxes and the rates of NCDs. Specifically, we provide empirical evidence supporting the negative association between taxes on alcohol and tobacco cigarettes and the mortality rates from NCDs, which aligns with the propositions advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, the interaction between alcohol taxes on spirits and beer indicates a possibility of complementarity, consistent with taxation principles. Notably, we also observed that higher tobacco cigarette prices are negatively associated with NCD mortality rates.

Conclusion

The results indicate that increasing taxes on major health risk factors is necessary to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Implementing these tax increases will likely help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, which aims to reduce NCD mortality by one-third by the year 2030.
Case report: A decade-long journey with cyclic thrombocytopenia
Authors: Al-Assil Talal , Ellythy Suhaib , Idris Omer A. , Omaira Mohammad
Published: January 2025

Cyclic thrombocytopenia (CTP) is a rare hematological disorder characterized by significant oscillations in platelet counts, alternating between phases of severe thrombocytopenia and periods of normal or elevated platelet levels. Due to its clinical similarities with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), CTP presents a diagnostic challenge. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who first presented at age 45 with a petechial rash, heavy menstruation, and severe thrombocytopenia with a platelet count of less than 5,000 × 10^9/L. Her severe thrombocytopenia was followed by marked rebound thrombocytosis, ultimately leading to a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic cyclic thrombocytopenia (CTP). Unlike other cyclic hematological disorders, CTP exclusively affects platelet counts distinguishing it from other conditions. It is unresponsive to conventional ITP treatments, and thus accurate diagnosis through vigilant platelet monitoring in unexplained thrombocytopenia can help CTP patients avoid unnecessary therapies and their associated side effects.
Seasonal prediction of rainfall variability for the West African Sudan-Sahel
Authors: Rauch Manuel , Bliefernicht Jan , Sawadogo Windmanagda , Sy Souleymane , Waongo Moussa , Kunstmann Harald
Published: January 2025

The Sudan-Sahel region in West Africa is highly vulnerable to rainfall variability, which poses significant challenges to agriculture and water resource management. This study provides an assessment of seasonal rainfall prediction models in the region, focusing on the West African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (WARCOF, 1998–2023), the latest generation of the seasonal forecasting system from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF SEAS5, 1981-2023), and a novel atmospheric circulation-pattern-based logistic regression model (1981–2023). The circulation-pattern-based model, which integrates key atmospheric dynamics like near-surface wind anomalies, outperforms both WARCOF and SEAS5 in predicting interannual rainfall variability. While WARCOF and SEAS5 demonstrate some predictive skill, both models exhibit biases: WARCOF has a dry bias, and SEAS5 displays both dry and wet biases. The circulation-pattern-based model, despite a slight wet bias, delivers more accurate categorical predictions and offers greater reliability. An economic value analysis reveals that the circulation-pattern-based model provides a broader range of positive economic outcomes, making it more suitable for decision-making across various cost-loss scenarios. By introducing this novel model and evaluating traditional forecasting techniques, this study lays the groundwork for more accurate and reliable seasonal rainfall predictions.
The biological function of Atractylodes lancea and its application in animal husbandry: a review
Authors: Gao Yang , Wang Dong , Ma Xue , Li Jiahui , Wang Difei , Chen Bo , Yang Xuexi , Leng Huan
Published: January 2025

Atractylodes lancea, is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family which is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It is often used for dehumidification, antiemetics, spleen strengthening and antipyretic effects. Atractylodes lancea is rich in various bio-active substances and has many biological functions, for instance anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral effects. Therefore, it is widely used in animal production, such as relieving heat stress, protecting intestinal health and regulating immunity. In recent years, it has received widespread attention in green cultivation. This article reviews the biological functions of Atractylodes lancea and looks forward to its application prospects in animal husbandry, in order to provide a theoretical basis for Atractylodes lancea to become a new feed additive in animal production.
Effects of residual black wolfberry fruit on growth performance, rumen fermentation parameters, microflora and economic benefits of fattening sheep
Authors: Hou Liangzhong , Duan Pingping , Yang Yuxia , Shah Ali Mujtaba , Li Jinlong , Xu Congbin , Guo Tongjun
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The residual black wolfberry fruit (RBWF) is rich in nutrients and contains a diverse range of active substances, which may offer a viable alternative to antibiotics. This experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of varying levels of RBWF on the growth performance and rumen microorganisms of fattening sheep, and to quantify its economic benefits.

Methods

In this experiment, 40 three-month-old and male Duolang sheep with an average weight of 29.85 kg, selected for their propensity to gain weight, were randomly assigned to one of four groups, with ten sheep in each group. To this end, each group was fed with a different proportion of RBWF (0%, 2%, 5%, 8%), and rumen fluid samples were collected to detect differences in fermentation parameters and microbial structure.

Results

The findings indicate that the dry matter intake, OM and NDF apparent digestibility of Duolang sheep in the H2 group were found to be significantly higher than those observed in the other groups (P < 0.05). The concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), including acetate, propionate, iso-butyrate, butyrate and iso-valerate, in rumen fluid demonstrated a linear increase with the supplementation of RBWF in the diet (P < 0.05). The dominant bacteria in the rumen of Duolang sheep were identified as Prevotella, Christensenellaceae R7 group, NK4A214 group, Ruminococcus, and Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group. Compared with the CK group, the relative abundance of Prevotella, NK4A214 group, unclassified Prevotellaceae and Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group in the rumen of sheep in each experimental group increased to varying degrees. The gross profit of the H2 group was significantly higher than that of the other groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the supplementation of RBWF has been demonstrated to enhance the growth performance of Duolang sheep, optimise rumen fermentation parameters, and ultimately increase gross profit, of which 5 % is the best.
Contextual Factors and Their Impact on Ethical Leadership in Educational Settings
Authors: Argyropoulou Eleftheria , Lintzerakou Elissavet Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

This discussion paper focuses on the notion of context and its variables and explores how context influences the attempt to practice ethical leadership in educational settings. Three major research questions underline this paper: a. What is the importance of context in the leadership research and what are the contextual factors affecting different notions of ethics, values, their degree of significance, and the way they affect attitudes and behaviors? b. To what extend do educational systems and/or communities share the same notional background about ethics, values, and ethical leadership? c. Can that which is researched and discussed in ethical leadership theory be successfully and effectively transferred into everyday school practice? Our investigation leads us to support the assumption that contextual factors should be included in (ethical) leadership research and the notion of vision and its interaction with the notions of mission and goals should be revisited in a more humanistic rather than managerial way if we wish to run ethical schools and transform them into ethical learning nests to nurture and develop new generations.
Dual-Vehicle Heterogeneous Collaborative Scheme with Image-Aided Inertial Navigation
Authors: Wang Zi-Ming , Lin Chun-Liang , Lu Chian-Yu , Wu Po-Chun , Chen Yang-Yi
Published: January 2025

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has revolutionized navigation in modern society. However, the susceptibility of GPS signals to interference and obstruction poses significant navigational challenges. This paper introduces a GPS-denied method based on scene image coordinates instead of real-time GPS signals. Our approach harnesses advanced image feature-recognition techniques, employing an enhanced scale-invariant feature transform algorithm and a neural network model. The recognition of prominent scene features is prioritized, thus improving recognition speed and precision. The GPS coordinates are extracted from the best-matching image by juxtaposing recognized features from the pre-established image database. A Kalman filter facilitates the fusion of these coordinates with inertial measurement unit data. Furthermore, ground scene recognition cooperates with its aerial counterpart to overcome specific challenges. This innovative idea enables heterogeneous collaboration by employing coordinate conversion formulas, effectively substituting traditional GPS signals. The proposed scheme may include military missions, rescues, and commercial services as potential applications.
Clinical and Immunological Features in Limpet (Patella sp.) Allergy in Subtropical Areas: A New Trigger for Food Anaphylaxis
Authors: Mederos-Luis Elena , Galán Tania , Martínez María J. , González-Pérez Ruperto , Sánchez-Machín Inmaculada , Pineda Fernando , Poza-Guedes Paloma
Published: January 2025

Seafood is a crucial source of nutrients, with global consumption steadily increasing. Among seafood-related allergies, shellfish are a significant cause of food allergy and anaphylaxis worldwide, affecting approximately 0.5–2.5% of the general population. While the majority of existing research has focused on crustaceans, allergic reactions to mollusks, including their clinical characteristics, remain poorly understood. In the Canary Islands, limpets (a type of marine gastropod) are widely consumed as part of the traditional cuisine. Despite isolated reports of limpet allergy, no large-scale studies or comprehensive clinical analyses have been published on this topic. A cohort of patients sensitized to limpets was analyzed: 66 patients were monosensitized to limpets (Group A), while 64 patients demonstrated additional sensitization to other shellfish (Group B). Limpet ingestion was associated with delayed and severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis and severe asthma. Notably, only 11.5% of patients in Group A tested positive for shellfish allergens using ALEX testing compared to 67.9% in Group B. The identification of protein bands in the 25–40 and 50–200 kDa molecular weight ranges in monosensitized patients provides a novel finding that differentiates this study from prior research. Our study represents the largest reported series of patients with documented limpet allergy to date.
Monitoring the Spread of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Throughout the Broiler Production Cycle
Authors: Cruz Victor Dellevedove , Alves Danilo Henrique Rabaçal , de Souza Jamile Kellen , Menck-Costa Maísa Fabiana , de Oliva Bruno Henrique Dias , Baptista Ana Angelita Sampaio , Oba Alexandre , Matté Fabrizio , Baierle Kácio Emílio Borges , da Rocha Sérgio Paulo Dejato , de Brito Kelly Cristina Tagliari , de Brito Benito Guimarães , Nakazato Gerson , Costa Marcio , Kobayashi Renata Katsuko Takayama
Published: January 2025

The extensive use of antimicrobials in broiler production is changing the bird microbiota, fostering drug-resistant bacteria, and complicating therapeutic interventions, making the problem of multidrug resistance global. The monitoring of antimicrobial virulence and resistance genes are tools that have come to assist the breeding of these animals, directing possible treatments as already used in human medicine and collecting data to demonstrate possible dissemination of multidrug-resistant strains that may cause damage to industry and public health. This work aimed to monitor broiler farms in southern Brazil, isolating samples of E. coli and classifying them according to the profile of resistance to antimicrobials of interest to human and animal health. We also monitored the profile of virulence genes and conducted an epidemiological survey of possible risk factors that contribute to this selection of multidrug-resistant isolates. Monitoring was carried out on farms in the three southern states of the country, collecting samples of poultry litter, cloacal swabs, and beetles of the species Alphitobius diaperinus, isolating E. coli from each of these samples. These were evaluated by testing their susceptibility to antimicrobials of animal and human interest; detecting whether the samples were extended-spectrum β-lactamase enzyme (ESBL) producers; and when positive, selected for genotypic tests to identify resistant genes (CTX-M, TEM, and SHV) and virulence. Among the antimicrobials tested, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin demonstrated some of the highest frequencies of resistance in the isolated strains, with significant statistical results. The use of these antimicrobials increased the likelihood of resistance by over three times and was associated with a 1.5-fold higher probability of multidrug resistance. Of all isolates, 95% were multidrug-resistant, raising concerns for production and public health. Among 231 ESBL-positive samples, the CTX-M1 group predominated.