bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoring Asia’s roar: Opportunities for tiger recovery across the historic range
Authors: Gray Thomas NE , Rosenbaum Rachel , Jiang Guangshun , Izquierdo Pablo , Yongchao JIN , Kesaro Leoung , Lyet Arnaud , Pasha MKS , Patterson David J. , Channa Phan , Jinzhe QI , Ripple William J. , Roberts Jennifer L. , Roy Sugoto , Shwe Nay Myo , Wolf Christopher , Chapman Stuart
Published: April 2023

Wildlife conservation in the Anthropocene requires bold conservation solutions including restoration of ecosystems and species. The recovery of large carnivore populations is a conservation goal which can generate significant benefits in terms of ecosystem services, ecological functionality, and human well-being. Tigers Panthera tigris, Asia’s most iconic species, are currently restricted to less than 10% of their historic range with recent national extinctions from a number of countries in mainland Southeast Asia. Tiger recovery through range expansion requires suitable habitat, a robust prey base, and high levels of institutional support for conservation. We explored government support for conservation to produce a ranking of the political opportunities for tiger restoration across current and former tiger range countries. We used this analysis, in combination with globally remotely sensed data-sets on human impact, to show that there is potential for significant tiger range expansion. We identified large expanses of currently unoccupied, but potentially suitable, habitat in at least 14 countries including all extant tiger range countries and four countries with extirpated tiger populations – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, and Kazakhstan. Thirty-two percent of expansion areas were within 50-km, and 50% within 100-km, of current tiger populations highlighting that in many landscapes range expansion could be driven by the natural dispersal of tigers provided connectivity is maintained or enhanced. The proportion of potential range within existing protected areas varied between <5% in India, Indonesia, and China, to >60% in Thailand and Cambodia. As such socially appropriate conservation approaches, in collaboration with local communities, will be necessary to support tiger recovery in many areas. We recommend that some of the areas which we have identified should be highlighted as significant for future tiger conservation by tiger range country governments. Whilst the landscapes and sites which we identify will require detailed ground-truthing, and all tiger reintroductions need extensive planning and feasibility assessments, safeguarding these areas for human-carnivore coexistence could provide significant planetary benefits and support both tiger recovery and Global Sustainable Development Goals.
The earliest evidence of domestic chickens in the Japanese Archipelago
Authors: Eda Masaki , Izumi Hiroe , Yoneda Minoru , Fujita Saburo
Published: April 2023

The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is the most conventional domestic animal whose main ancestor is the red junglefowl, found in Southeastern Asia and the southern part of China. Chickens were believed to have been brought to the Japanese Archipelago through the Korean Peninsula during the Yayoi period, but its exact age is unknown. Based on the sexual dimorphism of morphology, we pointed out that most chickens in the Yayoi period were males and that they were rarely bred in Japanese Archipelago. During the 58th survey of the Karako-Kagi site (Tawaramoto Town, Nara Prefecture), four pieces of immature Phasianidae bone were excavated from a division groove dating from the early middle Yayoi period. In this study, we performed collagen peptide fingerprinting identification and radiocarbon dating of immature Phasianidae bones from the Karako-Kagi site. Consequently, two peptide mass peaks unique to chickens were observed in samples from the immature bones, which were revealed to be derived from immature chickens. The calibrated age of the sample was confirmed to be between the fourth and third century BCE, which coincided with the opening age of the division groove. These results suggest that chickens have been successively bred since the beginning of the middle Yayoi period, at least in the Karako-Kagi village. The date was regarded as the lower limit for the introduction of chickens into the Japanese Archipelago, Korean Peninsula, and East Asia.
Mendelian randomization analysis does not reveal a causal influence of mental diseases on osteoporosis
Authors: Tang Fen , Wang Sheng , Zhao Hongxia , Xia Demeng , Dong Xin
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Osteoporosis (OP) is primarily diagnosed through bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, and it often leads to fracture. Observational studies suggest that several mental diseases (MDs) may be linked to OP, but the causal direction of these associations remain unclear. This study aims to explore the potential causal association between five MDs (Schizophrenia, Depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Epilepsy) and the risk of OP.

Methods

First, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were filtered from summary-level genome-wide association studies using quality control measures. Subsequently, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to indirectly analyze the causal effect of MDs on the risk of OP through bone mineral density (in total body, femoral neck, lumbar spine, forearm, and heel) and fractures (in leg, arm, heel, spine, and osteoporotic fractures). Lastly, the causal effect of the MDs on the risk of OP was evaluated directly through OP. MR analysis was performed using several methods, including inverse variance weighting (IVW)-random effects, IVW-fixed effects, maximum likelihood, weighted median, MR-Egger regression, and penalized weighted median.

Results

The results did not show any evidence of a causal relationship between MDs and the risk of OP (with almost all P values > 0.05). The robustness of the above results was proved to be good.

Discussion

In conclusion, this study did not find evidence supporting the claim that MDs have a definitive impact on the risk of OP, which contradicts many existing observational reports. Further studies are needed to determine the potential mechanisms of the associations observed in observational studies.
Graves’ disease as a driver of depression: a mechanistic insight
Authors: Song Yifei , Wang Xinying , Ma Wenxin , Yang Yan , Yan Shuxin , Sun Jiapan , Zhu Xiaoyun , Tang Yang
Published: April 2023

Graves’ disease (GD) is characterized by diffuse enlargement and overactivity of the thyroid gland, which may be accompanied by other physical symptoms. Among them, depression can dramatically damage patients’ quality of life, yet its prevalence in GD has not received adequate attention. Some studies have established a strong correlation between GD and increased risk of depression, though the data from current study remains limited. The summary of mechanistic insights regarding GD and depression has underpinned possible pathways by which GD contributes to depression. In this review, we first summarized the clinical evidence that supported the increased prevalence of depression by GD. We then concentrated on the mechanistic findings related to the acceleration of depression in the context of GD, as mounting evidence has indicated that GD promotes the development of depression through various mechanisms, including triggering autoimmune responses, inducing hormonal disorders, and influencing the thyroid-gut-microbiome-brain axis. Finally, we briefly presented potential therapeutic approaches to decreasing the risk of depression among patients with GD.
Key nuclear data for non-LWR reactivity analysis
Authors: Bostelmann Friederike , Ilas Germina , Wieselquist William A.
Published: April 2023

An assessment of nuclear data performance for non-light-water reactor (non-LWR) reactivity calculations was performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory that involved a thorough literature review to collect related observations made across different research institutions, an interrogation of the latest ENDF/B evaluated nuclear data libraries, and propagation of nuclear data uncertainties to key figures of merit associated with reactor safety for six non-LWR benchmarks. The outcome of this comprehensive study was published in a technical report issued by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This paper provides a summary of the study’s key observations and conclusions and demonstrates with two examples how the various methods available in the SCALE code system were used to identify key cross section uncertainties for non-LWR reactivity analyses.
Assessing the eco-efficiency of industrial parks recycling transformation: Evidence from data envelopment analysis (DEA) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)
Authors: Lei Zhen , Wei Junrong
Published: April 2023

Industrial parks are essential for promoting regional economic development, yet their linear growth model has become unsustainable. Hence, implementing the industrial park recycling transformation (IPRT) is necessary and urgent. However, the current literature on IPRT performance evaluation and improvement has not kept up with practical developments. This study aims to evaluate the eco-efficiency of IPRT and identify the variables and configurations that affect its enhancement. To achieve this, the authors employed super-efficiency data envelopment analysis and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to analyze data collected from 21 IPRT demonstration pilot parks. Drawing on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework, this study identified three configurations with high eco-efficiency and two configurations with non-high eco-efficiency for IPRT. The findings indicate that eco-efficiency varies significantly among different parks and is the result of multiple factors and interactions, with environmental supervision playing a pivotal role. Additionally, the results suggest that the local economic development level and the technological capacity of parks are substitutable. Parks in regions with modest economies tend to focus on environment-technology-oriented transformations, while external factors drive IPRT of parks in areas with developed economies. These findings offer guidance for parks to adopt appropriate strategy profiles and provide policy options for governments.
Location and tracking of environmental pollution sources under multi-UAV vision based on target motion model
Authors: Shen Baohua , Jiang Juan , Li Daoguo , Qian Feng
Published: April 2023

In computer vision, the detection and tracking of moving objects has become a hot topic today. The target tracking technology in this paper refers to the visual tracking of the ground moving target by the aircraft during the flight. Since both the aircraft and the target are moving, there are background and two motion vectors composed of the target and the background in the acquired image. Therefore, this paper proposed a research on the location and tracking of environmental pollution sources under multi-UAV vision based on the target motion model. This paper first introduced the UAV target tracking technology, and analyzed the development history and types of UAVs in detail. Then, based on the increasingly serious environmental pollution, this paper proposed to use UAV sensing technology to locate the pollution source. Finally, in the experimental part, this paper tested the UAV flight platform, and carried out the actual operation and positioning of the pollution source. The final experimental results showed that within 0 ~ 360 s, the attitude angle obtained by the gradient descent method had no divergence phenomenon, which could effectively reduce the error caused by the integration; the inclination angle deviation of the two groups of experimental equipment was within ±2.5°, the roll angle deviation was within ±3°, and the deviation angle was relatively large at some moments, but the average deviation was only 0.8°.
Application of circulating tumour DNA in terms of prognosis prediction in Chinese follicular lymphoma patients
Authors: Zhao Mengjing , Li Qingjuan , Yang Jing , Zhang Min , Liu Xiaolan , Zhang Hongwei , Huang Yunpeng , Li Jing , Bao Jiangping , Wang Jingfang , Du Jun , Guan Tao , Su Liping
Published: April 2023

Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL), an indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), is generally incurable. Favourable prognosis and durable remission are crucial for FL patients. The genetic mutation spectrum provides novel biomarkers for determining the prognosis of FL patients, but its detection is easily affected by the collection of tumour tissue biopsies. In this study, we aimed to describe the mutational landscape of FL using circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) samples and to explore the relationship between mutations and prognostic indicators of clinical outcome in patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma and the prognostic value of such mutations.

Methods: A total of 28 patients with newly diagnosed FL were included in this study. A targeted NGS-based 59-gene panel was used to assess the ctDNA mutation profiles. Differences in clinical factors between patients carrying mutations and those without mutations were analysed. We also explored the relationship between gene mutation status, mean VAFs (variant allele frequencies) and clinical factors. The Kaplan‒Meier method was applied to analyse the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients carrying mutations and those without mutations.

Results: ctDNA mutations were detectable in 21 (75%) patients. The most commonly mutated genes were CREBBP (54%, 15/28), KMT2D (50%, 14/28), STAT6 (29%, 8/28), CARD11 (18%, 5/28), PCLO (14%, 4/28), EP300 (14%, 4/28), BCL2 (11%, 3/28), and TNFAIP3 (11%, 3/28), with a mutation frequency of >10%. Patients with detectable ctDNA mutation tended to present with advanced Ann Arbor stage (III-IV) (p = 0.009), high FLIPI risk (3–5) (p = 0.023) and severe lymph node involvement (No. of involved areas ≥5) (p = 0.02). In addition, we found that the mean VAF was significantly higher in patients with advanced Ann Arbor stage, high-risk FLIPI, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH: 0–248U/L), advanced pathology grade, bone marrow involvement (BMI) and lymph node involvement. Additionally, KMT2D, EP300, and STAT6 mutations were associated with inferior PFS (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: We described the ctDNA mutation landscapes in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed FL and found that ctDNA VAF means reflect tumour burden. Moreover, PFS was shorter in patients with KMT2D, EP300 and STAT6 mutations.
Combining globally search for a regular expression and print matching lines with bibliographic monitoring of genomic database improves diagnosis
Authors: Tran Mau-Them Frédéric , Overs Alexis , Bruel Ange-Line , Duquet Romain , Thareau Mylene , Denommé-Pichon Anne-Sophie , Vitobello Antonio , Sorlin Arthur , Safraou Hana , Nambot Sophie , Delanne Julian , Moutton Sebastien , Racine Caroline , Engel Camille , De Giraud d’Agay Melchior , Lehalle Daphne , Goldenberg Alice , Willems Marjolaine , Coubes Christine , Genevieve David , Verloes Alain , Capri Yline , Perrin Laurence , Jacquemont Marie-Line , Lambert Laetitia , Lacaze Elodie , Thevenon Julien , Hana Nadine , Van-Gils Julien , Dubucs Charlotte , Bizaoui Varoona , Gerard-Blanluet Marion , Lespinasse James , Mercier Sandra , Guerrot Anne-Marie , Maystadt Isabelle , Tisserant Emilie , Faivre Laurence , Philippe Christophe , Duffourd Yannis , Thauvin-Robinet Christel
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Exome sequencing has a diagnostic yield ranging from 25% to 70% in rare diseases and regularly implicates genes in novel disorders. Retrospective data reanalysis has demonstrated strong efficacy in improving diagnosis, but poses organizational difficulties for clinical laboratories.

Patients and methods: We applied a reanalysis strategy based on intensive prospective bibliographic monitoring along with direct application of the GREP command-line tool (to “globally search for a regular expression and print matching lines”) in a large ES database. For 18 months, we submitted the same five keywords of interest [(intellectual disability, (neuro)developmental delay, and (neuro)developmental disorder)] to PubMed on a daily basis to identify recently published novel disease–gene associations or new phenotypes in genes already implicated in human pathology. We used the Linux GREP tool and an in-house script to collect all variants of these genes from our 5,459 exome database.

Results: After GREP queries and variant filtration, we identified 128 genes of interest and collected 56 candidate variants from 53 individuals. We confirmed causal diagnosis for 19/128 genes (15%) in 21 individuals and identified variants of unknown significance for 19/128 genes (15%) in 23 individuals. Altogether, GREP queries for only 128 genes over a period of 18 months permitted a causal diagnosis to be established in 21/2875 undiagnosed affected probands (0.7%).

Conclusion: The GREP query strategy is efficient and less tedious than complete periodic reanalysis. It is an interesting reanalysis strategy to improve diagnosis.
Identification of non-coding RNA related prognosis biomarkers based on ceRNA network in thyroid cancer
Authors: Fang Xin , Chen Xiliang , Gao Jingquan , Tong Liquan
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Thyroid cancer (THCA) has become a serious malignant tumor worldwide. Identification of non-coding RNA related regulators is very necessary to improve the knowledge of THCA treatment. The aim of this study was to identify novel therapeutic targets and prognosis biomarkers for predicting pathological characteristics and subsequently treating THCA.

Methods: We investigated the alterations of miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs in THCA. Functional enrichment and clustering analysis were conducted for these aberrantly expressed RNAs. Multiple interaction networks among miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs were constructed and the functional modules associated with THCA patients’ prognosis were identified. Furthermore, we evaluated the prognostic roles of the important miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs in THCA and investigated the regulatory potential of non-coding RNAs on immune cell infiltration.

Results: We firstly identified that miR-4709-3p and miR-146b-3p could significantly classify patients into high/low risk groups, which may be potential prognosis biomarkers of THCA. Secondly, we constructed a THCA-related miRNA-mRNA network, which displayed small world network topological characters. Two THCA-related functional modules were identified from the miRNA-mRNA network by MCODE. Results showed that two modules could implicate in known cancer pathways, such as apoptosis and focal adhesion. Thirdly, a THCA-related miRNA-lncRNA network was constructed. A subnetwork of miRNA-lncRNA network showed strong prognosis effect in THCA. Fourthly, we constructed a THCA-related mRNA-lncRNA network and detected several typical lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA crosstalk, such as AC068138, BCL2, miR-21 and miR-146b, which had good prognosis effect in THCA. Immune infiltration results showed that lncRNAs LA16c−329F2, RP11−395N3, RP11−423H2, RP11−399B17 and RP11–1036E20 were high related to neutrophil and dendritic cell infiltration.

Discussion: Non-coding RNA-mediated gene regulatory network has the strong regulatory potential in pathological processes of THCA. All these results could help us uncover the non-coding RNA-mediated regulatory mechanism in THCA.
Transcriptome analysis of two pepper genotypes infected with pepper mild mottle virus
Authors: Zhang Ziming , Chang Xiaofan , Luo Shuangxia , Wang Yanhua , Xuan Shuxin , Zhao Jianjun , Shen Shuxing , Ma Wei , Chen Xueping
Published: April 2023

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) poses a significant threat to pepper production because it is highly contagious and extremely persistent in soil. Despite this threat, little is known about the molecular processes that underlie plant responses to pepper mild mottle virus. Here, we performed RNA sequencing of tolerant (“17-p63”) and susceptible (“16-217”) pepper genotypes after pepper mild mottle virus or mock inoculation. Viral accumulation in systemic leaves was lower in the pepper mild mottle virus-resistant 17-p63 genotype than in the pepper mild mottle virus-sensitive 16-217 genotype, and infection symptoms were more apparent in systemic leaves of 16-217 than in those of 17-p63 at the same timepoints during the infection process. We identified 2,959 and 2,159 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in systemic leaves of infected 16-217 and 17-p63, respectively. Through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes from both genotypes revealed significant enrichment of the MAPK signaling pathway, plant–pathogen interaction, and flavonoid biosynthesis. A number of differentially expressed genes showed opposite trends in relation to stress resistance and disease defense in the two genotypes. We also performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of all samples and identified modules associated with resistance to pepper mild mottle virus, as well as seven hub genes. These results identify candidate virus resistance genes and provide insight into pepper defense mechanisms against pepper mild mottle virus.
Long COVID: a review and proposed visualization of the complexity of long COVID
Authors: Perumal Rubeshan , Shunmugam Letitia , Naidoo Kogieleum , Abdool Karim Salim S. , Wilkins Dave , Garzino-Demo Alfredo , Brechot Christian , Parthasarathy Sairam , Vahlne Anders , Nikolich Janko Ž.
Published: April 2023

Post-Acute Sequelae of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus – 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, or Long COVID, is a prevailing second pandemic with nearly 100 million affected individuals globally and counting. We propose a visual description of the complexity of Long COVID and its pathogenesis that can be used by researchers, clinicians, and public health officials to guide the global effort toward an improved understanding of Long COVID and the eventual mechanism-based provision of care to afflicted patients. The proposed visualization or framework for Long COVID should be an evidence-based, dynamic, modular, and systems-level approach to the condition. Furthermore, with further research such a framework could establish the strength of the relationships between pre-existing conditions (or risk factors), biological mechanisms, and resulting clinical phenotypes and outcomes of Long COVID. Notwithstanding the significant contribution that disparities in access to care and social determinants of health have on outcomes and disease course of long COVID, our model focuses primarily on biological mechanisms. Accordingly, the proposed visualization sets out to guide scientific, clinical, and public health efforts to better understand and abrogate the health burden imposed by long COVID.
Copper and cuproptosis-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma: therapeutic biomarkers targeting tumor immune microenvironment and immune checkpoints
Authors: Wang Xiaoqiang , Chen Dongfang , Shi Yumiao , Luo Jiamei , Zhang Yiqi , Yuan Xiaohong , Zhang Chaojin , Shu Huigang , Yu Weifeng , Tian Jie
Published: April 2023

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide, exhibits high immune heterogeneity and mortality. Emerging studies suggest that copper (Cu) plays a key role in cell survival. However, the relationship between Cu and tumor development remains unclear.

Methods

We investigated the effects of Cu and cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in patients with HCC in the TCGA-LIHC (The Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver cancer, n = 347) and ICGC-LIRI-JP (International Cancer Genome Consortium-Liver Cancer-Riken-Japan, n = 203) datasets. Prognostic genes were identified by survival analysis, and a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression model was constructed using the prognostic genes in the two datasets. Additionally, we analyzed differentially expressed genes and signal pathway enrichment. We also evaluated the effects of CRGs on tumor immune cell infiltration and their co-expression with immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) and performed validation in different tumor immune microenvironments (TIMs). Finally, we performed validation using clinical samples and predicted the prognosis of patients with HCC using a nomogram.

Results

A total of 59 CRGs were included for analysis, and 15 genes that significantly influenced the survival of patients in the two datasets were identified. Patients were grouped by risk scores, and pathway enrichment analysis suggested that immune-related pathways were substantially enriched in both datasets. Tumor immune cell infiltration analysis and clinical validation revealed that PRNP (Prion protein), SNCA (Synuclein alpha), and COX17 (Cytochrome c oxidase copper chaperone COX17) may be closely correlated with immune cell infiltration and ICG expression. A nomogram was constructed to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC using patients’ characteristics and risk scores.

Conclusion

CRGs may regulate the development of HCC by targeting the TIM and ICGs. CRGs such as PRNP, SNCA, and COX17 could be promising targets for HCC immune therapy in the future.
Effect of NETs/COX-2 pathway on immune microenvironment and metastasis in gastric cancer
Authors: Zhang Ange , Zou Xiaoming , Yang Shifeng , Yang Hao , Ma Zhen , Li Jiacheng
Published: April 2023

Background

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are crucial in the progression of several cancers. The formation of NETs is closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the granule proteins involved in nucleosome depolymerization under the action of ROS together with the loosened DNA compose the basic structure of NETs. This study aims to investigate the specific mechanisms of NETs promoting gastric cancer metastasis in order to perfect the existing immunotherapy strategies.

Methods

In this study, the cells and tumor tissues of gastric cancer were detected by immunological experiments, real-time polymerase chain reaction and cytology experiments. Besides, bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the correlation between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer, as well as its effect on immunotherapy.

Results

Examination of clinical specimens showed that NETs were deposited in tumor tissues of patients with gastric cancer and their expression was significantly correlated with tumor staging. Bioinformatics analysis showed that COX-2 was involved in gastric cancer progression and was associated with immune cell infiltration as well as immunotherapy. In vitro experiments, we demonstrated that NETs could activate COX-2 through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and thus enhance the metastatic ability of gastric cancer cells. In addition, in a liver metastasis model of nude mice we also demonstrated the critical role of NETs and COX-2 in the distant metastasis of gastric cancer.

Conclusion

NETs can promote gastric cancer metastasis by initiating COX-2 through TLR2, and COX-2 may become a target for gastric cancer immunotherapy.
An underwater image enhancement model for domain adaptation
Authors: Deng Xiwen , Liu Tao , He Shuangyan , Xiao Xinyao , Li Peiliang , Gu Yanzhen
Published: April 2023

Underwater imaging has been suffering from color imbalance, low contrast, and low-light environment due to strong spectral attenuation of light in the water. Owing to its complex physical imaging mechanism, enhancing the underwater imaging quality based on the deep learning method has been well-developed recently. However, individual studies use different underwater image datasets, leading to low generalization ability in other water conditions. To solve this domain adaptation problem, this paper proposes an underwater image enhancement scheme that combines individually degraded images and publicly available datasets for domain adaptation. Firstly, an underwater dataset fitting model (UDFM) is proposed to merge the individual localized and publicly available degraded datasets into a combined degraded one. Then an underwater image enhancement model (UIEM) is developed base on the combined degraded and open available clear image pairs dataset. The experiment proves that clear images can be recovered by only collecting the degraded images at some specific sea area. Thus, by use of the scheme in this study, the domain adaptation problem could be solved with the increase of underwater images collected at various sea areas. Also, the generalization ability of the underwater image enhancement model is supposed to become more robust. The code is available at https://github.com/fanren5599/UIEM.
Clinical and histopathological responses to bee venom phonophoresis in treating venous and diabetic ulcers: a single-blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Othman Eman M. , Hamada Hamada Ahmed , Mohamed Ghada I. , Abdallah Ghada A. , Ahmed Zeinab S. , Al-Shenqiti Abdullah M. , Kadry Ahmed Mahmoud
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Chronic venous and diabetic ulcers are hard to treat that cause patients long time of suffering as well as significant healthcare and financial costs.

Purpose

The conducted study was to evaluate the efficacy of bee venom (BV) phonophoresis on the healing of chronic unhealed venous and/or diabetic foot ulcers Also, to compare the healing rate of diabetic and venous ulcers.

Methodology

The study included 100 patients (71 males and 29 females) with an age range of 40-60 years' old who had chronic unhealed venous leg ulcers of grade I, grade II, or diabetic foot ulcers with type II diabetes mellitus. They randomly assigned into four equal groups of 25: Group A (diabetic foot ulcer study group) and group C (venous ulcer study group) who both received conservative treatment of medical ulcer care and phonophoresis with BV gel, in addition to group B (diabetic foot ulcer control group) and group D (venous ulcer control group) who both received conservative treatment of medical ulcer care and received ultrasound sessions only without BV gel. Wound surface area (WSA) and ulcer volume measurement (UVM) were used to assess the ulcer healing pre-application (P0), post-6 weeks of treatment (P1), and after 12 weeks of treatment (P2). In addition to Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the cell proliferative in the granulation tissue of ulcers pre-application (P0) and after 12 weeks of treatment (P2) for all groups.

Results

This research revealed a statistical significance improvement (p ≤ 0.0) in the WSA, and UVM with no significant difference between study groups after treatment. Regarding Ki-67 immunohistochemistry showed higher post treatment values in the venous ulcer group in comparison to the diabetic foot ulcer group.

Conclusion

Bee venom (BV) provided by phonophoresis is effective adjuvant treatment in accelerating venous and diabetic foot ulcer healing with higher proliferative effect on venous ulcer.

Clinical trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05285930.
25(OH)D-but not 1,25(OH)2D–Is an independent risk factor predicting graft loss in stable kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Zeng Shufei , Yang Yide , Li Shuping , Hocher Carl-Friedrich , Chu Chang , Wang Ziqiang , Zheng Zhihua , Krämer Bernhard K. , Hocher Berthold
Published: April 2023

Background

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) or vitamin D insufficiency is common in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The impact of VDD on clinical outcomes in KTRs remain poorly defined and the most suitable marker for assessing vitamin D nutritional status in KTRs is unknown so far.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study including 600 stable KTRs (367 men, 233 women) and a meta-analysis to pool existing evidence to determine whether 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D predicted graft failure and all-cause mortality in stable KTRs.

Results

Compared with a higher 25(OH)D concentration, a low concentration of 25(OH)D was a risk factor for graft failure (HR 0.946, 95% CI 0.912−0.981, p = 0.003), whereas 1,25 (OH)2D was not associated with the study end-point graft loss (HR 0.993, 95% CI 0.977−1.009, p = 0.402). No association was found between either 25(OH)D or 1,25 (OH)2D and all-cause mortality. We furthermore conducted a meta-analysis including 8 studies regarding the association between 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D and graft failure or mortality, including our study. The meta-analysis results were consistent with our study in finding that lower 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with the risk of graft failure (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01−1.07), but not associated with mortality (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98−1.03). Lower 1,25(OH)2D levels were not associated with the risk of graft failure (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.99−1.02) and mortality (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.99−1.02).

Conclusion

Baseline 25(OH)D concentrations but not 1,25(OH)2D concentrations were independently and inversely associated with graft loss in adult KTRs.
Determination of the effective dose of dexmedetomidine to achieve loss of consciousness during anesthesia induction
Authors: Mu Bing , Xu Wenjie , Li Hongyi , Suo Zizheng , Wang Xiaoxiao , Zheng Yuxiang , Tian Yi , Zhang Bowen , Yu Jie , Tian Naiyuan , Lin Nan , Zhao Dan , Zheng Zhaoxu , Zheng Hui , Ni Cheng
Published: April 2023

Background

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a sedative with greater preservation of cognitive function, reduced respiratory depression, and improved patient arousability. This study was designed to investigate the performance of DEX during anesthesia induction and to establish an effective DEX induction strategy, which could be valuable for multiple clinical conditions.

Methods

Patients undergoing abdominal surgery were involved in this dose-finding trial. Dixon's up-and-down sequential method was employed to determine the effective dose of DEX to achieve the state of “loss of consciousness”, and an effective induction strategy was established with continuous infusion of DEX and remifentanil. The effects of DEX on hemodynamics, respiratory state, EEG, and anesthetic depth were monitored and analyzed.

Results

Through the strategy mentioned, the depth of surgical anesthesia was successfully achieved by DEX-led anesthesia induction. The ED50 and ED95 of the initial infusion rate of DEX were 0.115 and 0.200 μg/kg/min, respectively, and the mean induction time was 18.3 min. The ED50 and ED95 of DEX to achieve the state of “loss of consciousness” were 2.899 (95% CI: 2.703–3.115) and 5.001 (95% CI: 4.544–5.700) μg/kg, respectively. The mean PSI on the loss of consciousness was 42.8 among the patients. During anesthesia induction, the hemodynamics including BP and HR were stable, and the EEG monitor showed decreased α and β powers and increased θ and δ in the frontal and pre-frontal cortices of the brain.

Conclusion

This study indicated that continuous infusion of combined DEX and remifentanil could be an effective strategy for anesthesia induction. The EEG during the induction was similar to the physiological sleep process.
Exploring long COVID condition in Latin America: Its impact on patients’ activities and associated healthcare use
Authors: Angarita-Fonseca Adriana , Torres-Castro Rodrigo , Benavides-Cordoba Vicente , Chero Santos , Morales-Satán Mauricio , Hernández-López Bricia , Salazar-Pérez Rafael , Larrateguy Santiago , Sanchez-Ramirez Diana C.
Published: April 2023

Background

Studies exploring long COVID condition (LCC) in low- and middle-income countries are scarce. Further characterization of LCC patients experiencing activity limitations and their associated healthcare use is needed. This study aimed to describe LCC patients’ characteristics, its impact on activities, and associated healthcare use in Latin America (LATAM).

Participants

Individuals who (cared for someone or) had COVID-19 and could read, write, and comprehend Spanish and lived in a LATAM country were invited to complete a virtual survey. Sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 and LCC symptoms, activity limitations, and healthcare use.

Results

Data from 2,466 people from 16 countries in LATAM were analyzed (females = 65.9%; mean age of 39.5 ± 53.3 years). 1,178 (48%) of the respondents had LCC symptoms (≥3 months). These were more likely to have COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic, were older, had no COVID vaccines, had more comorbidities, needed supplementary oxygen, and reported significantly more COVID-19 symptoms during the infectious period. 33% of the respondents visited a primary care provider, 13% went to the emergency department, 5% were hospitalized, 21% visited a specialist, and 32% consulted ≥1 therapist for LCC symptoms mainly extreme fatigue, sleep difficulties, headaches, muscle or joint pain, and shortness of breath with activity. The most consulted therapists were respiratory therapists (15%) and psychologists (14%), followed by physical therapists (13%), occupational therapists (3%), and speech pathologists (1%). One-third of LCC respondents decreased their regular activities (e.g., work, school) and 8% needed help with activities of daily living (ADLs). LCC respondents who reduced their activities reported more difficulty sleeping, chest pain with activity, depression, and problems with concentration, thinking, and memory, while those who needed help with ADLs were more likely to have difficulty walking, and shortness of breath at rest. Approximately 60% of respondents who experienced activity limitations sought a specialist and 50% consulted therapists.

Conclusions and relevance

Results supported previous findings in terms of the LCC demographics, and provided insight into LCC impact on patients’ activities and healthcare services used in LATAM. This information is valuable to inform service planning and resource allocation in alignment with the needs of this population.
New insight into the microbiome, resistome, and mobilome on the dental waste water in the context of heavy metal environment
Authors: Jiao Xiaoyang , Guo Wenyan , Li Xin , Yao Fen , Zeng Mi , Yuan Yumeng , Guo Xiaoling , Wang Meimei , Xie Qing Dong , Cai Leshan , Yu Feiyuan , Yu Pen , Xia Yong
Published: April 2023

Object

Hospital sewage have been associated with incorporation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) into microbes, which is considered as a key indicator for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The compositions of dental waste water (DWW) contain heavy metals, the evolution of AMR and its effects on the water environment in the context of heavy metal environment have not been seriously investigated. Thus, our major aims were to elucidate the evolution of AMR in DWW.

Methods

DWW samples were collected from a major dental department. The presence of microbial communities, ARGs, and MGEs in untreated and treated (by filter membrane and ozone) samples were analyzed using metagenomics and bioinformatic methods.

Results

DWW-associated resistomes included 1,208 types of ARGs, belonging to 29 antibiotic types/subtypes. The most abundant types/subtypes were ARGs of multidrug resistance and of antibiotics that were frequently used in the clinical practice. Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Sphingomonas laterariae were the main bacteria which hosted these ARGs. Mobilomes in DWW consisted of 93 MGE subtypes which belonged to 8 MGE types. Transposases were the most frequently detected MGEs which formed networks of communications. For example, ISCrsp1 and tnpA.5/4/11 were the main transposases located in the central hubs of a network. These significant associations between ARGs and MGEs revealed the strong potential of ARGs transmission towards development of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria. On the other hand, treatment of DWW using membranes and ozone was only effective in removing minor species of bacteria and types of ARGs and MGEs.

Conclusion

DWW contained abundant ARGs, and MGEs, which contributed to the occurrence and spread of AMR bacteria. Consequently, DWW would seriously increase environmental health concerns which may be different but have been well-documented from hospital waste waters.
Effects of the synbiotic composed of mangiferin and Lactobacillus reuteri 1–12 on type 2 diabetes mellitus rats
Authors: Meng Fanying , Zhang Fan , Meng Meng , Chen Qiuding , Yang Yaqin , Wang Wenbo , Xie Haina , Li Xue , Gu Wen , Yu Jie
Published: April 2023

Many synbiotics are effective for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the treatment of T2DM, synbiotics often regulate the composition of intestinal flora, which autoinducer-2 (AI-2) may play an important role. Whether the changes of intestinal flora are related to AI-2 during synbiotics treatment of T2DM is a topic worth studying. We elucidated the effects of synbiotic composed of mangiferin andLactobacillus reuteri1–12 (SML) on T2DM rats. Male Spraque-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (STZ) and randomly grouped. After that, biochemical parameters, intestinal flora, fecal AI-2, and intestinal colonization ofL. reuteriwere detected. The results showed that SML had a hypoglycemic effect and mitigated the organ lesions of the liver and pancreas. Also, SML regulated biochemical parameters such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). On the other hand, the proportion of probiotics, such asLactobacillus acidophilus,L. reuteri,Bifidobacterium pseudolongum,Lactobacillus murinus, andLactobacillus johnsonii, were elevated by the treatment of SML. In addition, SML promoted the colonization and proliferation ofL. reuteriin the gut. Another thing to consider was that AI-2 was positively correlated with the total number of OTUs sequences and SML boosted AI-2 in the gut. Taken together, these results supported that SML may modulate intestinal flora through AI-2 to treat T2DM. This study provided a novel alternative strategy for the treatment of T2DM in future.
Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding
Authors: Ludowicy Petra , Paz-Alonso Pedro M. , Lachmann Thomas , Czernochowski Daniela
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Long-term memory retention is enhanced after testing compared to restudying (testing effect). Notably, memory retrieval further improves when correct-answer feedback is provided after the retrieval attempt (test-potentiated encoding–TPE).

Methods

To evaluate whether explicit positive or negative feedback further enhances memory performance beyond the effect of TPE, in two experiments additional explicit positive or negative performance-contingent feedback was presented before providing correct-answer feedback. After an initial exposure to the full material, 40 participants learned 210 weakly associated cue-target word pairs by either restudying or testing (Experiment 1). Depending on the accuracy of the retrieval attempt, the tested word pairs were followed by positive or negative performance feedback (50%) or no feedback (50%). Irrespective of the type of repetition, trials were followed by a restudy opportunity. Participants returned to perform a final cued-recall test (Day 2).

Results

Final test results replicated the testing effect (better memory performance for tested compared to restudied items). Explicit performance feedback in addition to correct-answer feedback increased retrieval performance, but only on Day 2. This pattern of results was replicated in Experiment 2 in an independent sample of 25 participants. To assess the specific effects of learning history, we also examined retrieval accuracy and reaction times during repetition cycles: Explicit feedback improved retrieval for material successfully encoded in the initial study phase (consistent positive feedback) as well as for material learned during the repetition phase (mixed positive and negative feedback).

Discussion

Performance feedback improves learning beyond the effects of retrieval practice and correct-answer feedback, suggesting that it strengthens memory representations and promotes re-encoding of the material.
Spinal inhibitory interneurons: regulators of coordination during locomotor activity
Authors: Gosgnach Simon
Published: April 2023

Since the early 1900’s it has been known that a neural network, situated entirely within the spinal cord, is capable of generating the movements required for coordinated locomotion in limbed vertebrates. Due the number of interneurons in the spinal cord, and the extent to which neurons with the same function are intermingled with others that have divergent functions, the components of this neural circuit (now referred to as the locomotor central pattern generator-CPG) have long proven to be difficult to identify. Over the past 20 years a molecular approach has been incorporated to study the locomotor CPG. This approach has resulted in new information regarding the identity of its component interneurons, and their specific role during locomotor activity. In this mini review the role of the inhibitory interneuronal populations that have been shown to be involved in locomotor activity are described, and their specific role in securing left-right, and flexor extensor alternation is outlined. Understanding how these interneuronal populations are activated, modulated, and interact with one another will help us understand how locomotor behavior is produced. In addition, a deeper understanding of the structure and mechanism of function of the locomotor CPG has the potential to assist those developing strategies aimed at enhancing recovery of motor function in spinal cord injured patients.
Automated detection of myopic maculopathy using five-category models based on vision outlooker for visual recognition
Authors: Wan Cheng , Fang Jiyi , Hua Xiao , Chen Lu , Zhang Shaochong , Yang Weihua
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To propose a five-category model for the automatic detection of myopic macular lesions to help grassroots medical institutions conduct preliminary screening of myopic macular lesions from limited number of color fundus images.

Methods

First, 1,750 fundus images of non-myopic retinal lesions and four categories of pathological myopic maculopathy were collected, graded, and labeled. Subsequently, three five-classification models based on Vision Outlooker for Visual Recognition (VOLO), EfficientNetV2, and ResNet50 for detecting myopic maculopathy were trained with data-augmented images, and the diagnostic results of the different trained models were compared and analyzed. The main evaluation metrics were sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), area under the curve (AUC), kappa and accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

Results

The diagnostic accuracy of the VOLO-D2 model was 96.60% with a kappa value of 95.60%. All indicators used for the diagnosis of myopia-free macular degeneration were 100%. The sensitivity, NPV, specificity, and PPV for diagnosis of leopard fundus were 96.43, 98.33, 100, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of diffuse chorioretinal atrophy were 96.88, 98.59, 93.94, and 99.29%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of patchy chorioretinal atrophy were 92.31, 99.26, 97.30, and 97.81%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of macular atrophy were 100, 98.10, 84.21, and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion

The VOLO-D2 model accurately identified myopia-free macular lesions and four pathological myopia-related macular lesions with high sensitivity and specificity. It can be used in screening pathological myopic macular lesions and can help ophthalmologists and primary medical institution providers complete the initial screening diagnosis of patients.