bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of hemoglobin C on Plasmodium falciparum parasite density
Authors: MOUSTAPHA Lamine MAHAMAN , YANSAMBOU Mahamadou SEYNI , AMADOU Ibrahim Halilou , ADJIVON Anaëlle Deus-Maël Gloria Obubé , SOULEYMANE Adoum Fils , IBRAHIM Maman Laminou , MAHAMADOU Doutchi
Published: October 2024

Malaria and sickle cell disease are public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. We study the influence of hemoglobin type on parasite density in suspected sickle cell malaria patients in Maradi, Niger. This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection between 2012 and 2023. Electrophoresis methods were used to determine the hemoglobin type and thick smear for the parasite density. This study involved 875 participants with a sex ratio of 1.06; their mean age was 14.25 years [02 months − 80 years]. Thick smear analysis of all participants revealed 52.91% positive, and the arithmetic mean of 242 p/uL (40 p/uL − 2600 p/uL). The most prevalent hemoglobin types were hemoglobin A (66.17%), following with hemoglobin S (29.14%) and hemoglobin C (3.66%). The geometric mean of the parasite density applied to the hemoglobin type shows that hemoglobin C (289.65 p/uL) and hemoglobin S (291.39 p/uL) stand out as being the highest. These results show that the differences in parasite density between hemoglobin A, hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C are statistically significant (p = 2.28x10− 59). Regression analysis showed that hemoglobin C had a significant positive influence (p = 0.029) on parasite density. The hemoglobin A2, hemoglobin F and hemoglobin S, did not have a statistically significant impact on parasite density. According to this study, person with predominant hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C have highest parasitemia than patients with predominant hemoglobin A type. It’s necessary to conduct others studies to determine the mechanism by how hemoglobin type affects parasite density in malaria.
Study on the load-supporting characteristic of the new type of support disc-type anchor under cyclic loading test
Authors: Gu Fuguang , Wang Jun , Chang Hong , Sun Qinglin , Gan Zhengheng , Jiang Haozhi
Published: October 2024

The new type of support disc-type anchor is a kind of expanded body anchor with broad application prospects, and its load-bearing performance is significantly better than that of traditional anchors. In this paper, we propose to use the indoor model test method to carry out multiple cyclic loading tests for different support disc diameters, support disc thicknesses, anchoring section diameters, anchoring section lengths, etc., to obtain the corresponding Q-s curves and to reveal their mechanical properties. The function model suitable for predicting the bearing capacity of the new type of support disc-type anchors was derived by nonlinear fitting of some data using the function model and verified by comparing it with the measured data. The study shows that the support disc diameter and anchoring section length have the most significant effect on the pullout bearing capacity of the new type of support disc-type anchors, while the increase of anchoring section diameter and the shortening of anchoring section length may reduce its pullout bearing capacity; The Q-s curve can be divided into five stages, and the lateral friction force between the anchoring section and the soil body and the bulb resistance at the supported disc in a synergistic manner generates the bearing capacity of the new type of supported disc-type anchor; After comparative validation, it was found that the Belehradek function model is more suitable for describing the Q-s curve of the new type of support disc-type anchors under this test, and the function model is highly accurate and has strong engineering practicality.
Diagnostic value and safety of contact laser-assisted endotracheal ultrasound-guided tunnel drilling biopsy in mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhan Wenyu , Wang Tian , Yang Changqing , Wang Yubao , Wan Nansheng , Feng Jing
Published: October 2024

Background: Mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathies are primarily diagnosed pathologically. Compared to traditional endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), contact laser-assisted endobronchial ultrasound-guided tunnel drilling biopsy (EBUS-TDB) using a laser as a tunnelling and incision tool may yield more satisfactory specimens, thereby improving the diagnostic yield. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of contact laser-assisted EBUS-TDB compared to EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients who presented to our hospital between October 2022 and April 2024 with mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes of short diameter ≥ 1 cm on CT or abnormally increased lymph node metabolism on PET-CT and successively completed EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-TDB procedures.
Results: Overall, 278 patients were included in the study, and 244 cases were confirmed. The diagnostic rates (p-values) of EBUS-TDB and EBUS-TBNA in pulmonary and extrapulmonary malignancies, lymphoma, sarcoidosis, and lymph node tuberculosis were 96.6% vs. 76.3% (0.043), 100% vs. 67.7% (−), 88.9% vs. 31.1% (0.555), and 69.2% vs. 30.8% (0.049), respectively. No serious adverse events occurred during or after the surgery.
Conclusion: Contact laser-assisted EBUS-TBNB is superior to EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes and may be used as an alternative to EBUS-TBNA.
The management of pancreatic tail during robotic-assisted spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy
Authors: Shen Danyang , Xue Xiao-feng , Sun Ding , Qiu Jun-yi , Wang Dao-bin , Zou Jia-yue , Gan Xiao-jie , Qin Lei , Zhang Wei-gang
Published: October 2024

In robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (RSPDP), the relationship between the pancreatic tail and splenic vessels affects whether the distal pancreas can be resected completely or the spleen can be preserved successfully. However, no study has reported surgical strategies for the management of pancreatic tails during RSPDP. In this study, the clinical data of 46 patients who consecutively received robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy (DP) with intended splenic preservation were analyzed. The pancreatic tails were classified into four anatomical variations based on the relationship between splenic vessels and pancreatic parenchyma or tumor. The RDP group had more type IV cases (76.92% vs. 18.18%, P < 0.05) and less type II cases (7.69% vs. 39.39%, P < 0.05) compared with the RSPDP group. Compared with the type I/II group, the type III/IV group had a significantly lower spleen-preserving rate (52.17% vs. 91.30%, P = 0.003). Moreover, the spleen preservation rate was significantly elevated in the second period (2023.01-2024.01, n = 29) than in the first period (2021.01-2022.12, n = 17) (82.76% vs. 52.94%, P = 0.030). We proposed the preoperative classification of pancreatic tail type and the “pendulum separation” technique, and found that it was challenging to preserve the spleen in type III and IV pancreatic tails due to their complex anatomical relationship with the splenic vessel and tumor.
Assessing the risk of peripheral neuropathy among male tobacco smokers with type 2 diabetes: a matched case-control study in an Arabic-speaking country
Authors: Bader Sana , Hasan Sanah , Islam Rakibul M. , Abdulrazak Ghisson , Zarouni Khadija Al , Muayyad Mariam , Karim Md. Nazmul
Published: October 2024

The increasing prevalence of diabetic complications and tobacco consumption are alarming worldwide. This study aimed to assess the association between tobacco smoking and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) among male smokers with type 2 diabetes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a matched case-control study, participants were recruited from two major hospitals in Sharjah. Male patients aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with DPN who had type 2 diabetes mellitus for at least one year were recruited. Age-(± 3 years)-matched controls were recruited for each case. Sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported data on physical activity, tobacco smoking were collected. Smoking status was assessed as current, past, or never. Medical and clinical data were collected from hospital records. An equal 140 of each cases and controls were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 63.75 ± 10.61 and 63.69 ± 10.50, respectively. The case group was more likely to smoke and had a longer smoking duration than the control group. After adjusting for all plausible confounders, the association between tobacco smoking and DPN was significant (past smokers [OR, 4.12; 95% CI 1.84–9.21], and current smokers [OR, 2.63; 95% CI 1.09–6.35]). This study found a significant association between tobacco consumption and DPN among males with diabetes in the UAE. Targeted smoking cessation programs are urgently needed.
Promoting Workplace Physical Activity Among University Employees: The Impact of Motivational and Educational Banners on Stair Use
Authors: Safi Ayazullah , Hossain Muhammad
Published: October 2024

Introduction:
Employees often face barriers to engaging in regular physical activity (PA) during working hours, including lack of time, workloads, and management support are some of the noted barriers. This intervention aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of displaying motivational and educational banners near lifts and stairwells in a university setting as a strategy to promote PA.
Methods
This mixed methods intervention involved 103 university employees who were observed as they approached lifts, with subsequent stair use being monitored. The intervention took place in two university buildings, where four large banners (468 x 280 centimetres) featuring motivational and educational messages were strategically placed near stairwells and lifts.
Results
Significant changes in stair use behaviour were noted, while qualitative analysis identified six main themes, and several sub-themes related to participants' motivations and experiences. Participants reported physical benefits, such as increased heart rate and leg strengthening, while others noted mental health benefits, including reduced stress, anxiety, and improved confidence.
Discussion and Conclusion:
This intervention successfully changed participants' behaviour, with many stating that the banners would positively influence their future stair-use decisions. The findings can inform future interventions related to PA, health, and well-being in various settings, including workplaces and community environments.
A high-throughput screening approach to discover potential colorectal cancer chemotherapeutics: Repurposing drugs to disrupt 14-3-3 protein-BAD interactions
Authors: Lim Gareth , He Siyi , Meister Daniel , Silva Luis Delgadillo , Rutter Guy , Trant John
Published: October 2024

Selectively inducing apoptosis in cancer cells is an effective therapeutic strategy, but the reality of success of existing chemotherapeutics is compromised by emergent tumor cell resistance and systemic off-target effects. Therefore, the discovery of new classes of pro-apoptotic compounds with minimal systemic side-effects remains an urgent need. 14-3-3 proteins are molecular scaffolds that serve as important regulators of cell survival. Our previous study demonstrated that 14-3-3ζ can sequester BAD, a pro-apoptotic member of the BCL-2 protein family, in the cytoplasm to inhibit the induction of apoptosis. Despite being a critical mechanism of cell survival, it is unclear whether disrupting 14-3-3 protein:BAD interactions could be harnessed as a chemotherapeutic approach. Herein, we established a BRET-based, high-throughput drug screening approach (Z’-score = 0.52) capable of identifying molecules that can disrupt 14-3-3ζ:BAD interactions. An FDA-approved drug library containing 1971 compounds was used for screening, and the capacity of identified hits to induce cell death was examined in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 and Caco-2. Our in vitro results suggest that terfenadine, penfluridol, and lomitapide could be potentially repurposed for treating colorectal cancer. An in silico structural analysis, validated by grounding in the experimental data, provides insight into specific molecular interactions and highlights proposed binding modes that can be further modified to refine the affinity and selectivity of identified hits. This multi-modal screening method demonstrates the feasibility of identifying pro-apoptotic agents that can be applied towards conditions where aberrant cell growth or function are key determinants of disease pathogenesis.
Evaluating Motor Coordination in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Validation of a Motor Test Instrument
Authors: Monteiro Carlos Eduardo Lima , Masi Fabrizio , Souza Divaldo Martins , Santos Darlan Tavares , Silva Gabriel Costa e , Dantas Estélio Henrique Martin
Published: October 2024

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, as well as difficulties in communication and delays in motor development. This study aims to assess the reliability and objectivity of an instrument composed of motor tests to evaluate motor coordination in children with ASD. Using the Motor Coordination Assessment Battery for Children with Autism (BACMA) The study involved the production-construction, validation, and evaluation of the instruments, including the measurement of intra- and inter-rater errors as a methodological parameter. An Evaluation Sample Group was formed by 31 children with ASD, aged between 7 and 10 years. The results indicated that BACMA demonstrated high reliability (r = 0.94; p < 0.0001) and objectivity (r = 0.91; p < 0.0001), proving to be a precise and consistent tool for evaluating motor coordination in children with ASD. The general coordination index (ICG) established by the quartiles allowed classifying the motor performance of the children as Very Good, Good, Regular, or Insufficient. It is concluded that the BACMA is a valuable tool for improving the accuracy and effectiveness of motor performance assessment in children with ASD. Furthermore, it is expected that this battery of tests will promote qualitative changes in the analysis of motor coordination in these individuals, being an important tool for professionals in the field of human motricity. This research contributes to the development of more appropriate and personalized intervention strategies aimed at improving motor coordination and overall development of children with ASD.
Picture of Health: Evaluating an accessible method for quantifying coral thermal tolerance using photographic color analysis
Authors: Hackerott Serena , Gregory Lauren E. , Howard John M. , Eirin-Lopez Jose M.
Published: October 2024

Reef-building corals are increasingly threatened by the warming climate, necessitating the development of tools to monitor their responses to environmental stress. Furthermore, scalable methods of identifying resilient corals are a particular conservation priority. Techniques commonly used to quantify the severity of coral bleaching can be invasive or require specialized instruments, while more widely-accessible visual methods can be limited by subjectivity. This study evaluates a non-invasive, objective, color-based approach for evaluating the status of coral symbiosis and compares thermal tolerance results with traditional bleaching metrics. Using the staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis as a model, acute thermal tolerance was assessed across genets, sites, and seasons within an active coral restoration program in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. Quantitative color scores were significantly correlated with both traditional bleaching metrics and also identified similar genetic and environmental effects on coral thermal tolerance. Most importantly, color-based metrics demonstrated a high level of agreement with both symbiont and chlorophyll retention in detecting significant pairwise differences in resistance. Variation in predictive accuracy and method agreement across seasons suggest that color-based assessments of thermal tolerance may be more effective in summer compared to winter. Overall the findings of this study provide support for color analysis as a reliable and cost-effective method for assessing coral resilience which can be readily incorporated into censuses of coral populations, especially for conservation and restoration efforts.
Analysis of the factors influencing patients’ power distance ：a qualitative study
Authors: Wang Yinyu , Gu Yanfen , Peng Youqing , Yu Haiping
Published: October 2024

Background：Patient participation in patient safety (PFPS) has proved to be an effective measure to ensure patient safety. However, patients are insufficiently willing to participate, and lack initiative and enthusiasm.Patient power distance can be one of the influential factors.Whereas, how patient power distance affects participation in safety activities and factors influencing patient power distance are rarely reported nationally and internationally.
Objective：To explore and analyze the influencing factors of inpatients' power distance.
Methods：This study used a qualitative method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 patients hospitalized in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology from Hospital A.
Results：The factors influencing the patients’ power distance are：Patient factors (knowledge reserve, psychological stress, hospitalization experience); Medical factors (role cognition, professional qualification, communication skills); Environmental factors (clinical situation, social environment, cultural background).
Conclusion：Medical staff should attach great importance to the power distance of patients, and enhance the capacity of humane care. According to the individual differences of patients, appropriate communication methods should be adopted to narrow the distance between medical staff and patients so as to improve the patients' willingness to participate in patient safety.
Construction and evaluation of an aspirin resistance risk prediction model for ischemic stroke
Authors: Ma Tianyu , wang xue , Song yan , Zhang Min
Published: October 2024

Background Aspirin has become the drug of choice for the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke, but approximately a quarter of patients may be resistant to its effects and have an increased risk of recurrent ischemic events while also developing aspirin resistance. This study aimed to build a risk prediction model for AR in IS patients, predicts the likelihood of IS patients developing AR.
Methods The retrospective research study included the clinical data of patients with ischemic stroke were retrospectively collected from January 2021 to January 2023 at the Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University in the Jilin Province. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to construct a risk prediction model. The Hosmer–Lemeshow χ2 test and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to check the differential validity and calibration of the risk prediction model. The AR risk assessment criteria for ischemic stroke were established based on the β values of each risk factor and its variable types in the prediction model. The two evaluation criteria were compared and analyzed to determine the best criteria.
Results Seven risk factors were included in the prediction model. Sex (female), age (≥ 60 years), smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, platelets > 350 × 109 g/L, and glycosylated hemoglobin > 6.5% were independent influencing factors for the occurrence of AR in ischemic stroke. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the risk score model in the training group was 0.834 (0.772–0.896, P < 0.001). The Hosmer–Lemeshow test predicted the model fit effect χ2 = 9.979, P = 0.267 > 0.05. In the validation group, the AUC was 0.819 (0.715–0.922, P < 0.001). Using the β value × 4 partial regression coefficient method, the scores and stratification of the AR risk prediction model were divided into three groups: no risk (0–3 points), low risk (4–15 points), and high risk (16–36 points).
Conclusions The AR ischemic stroke risk prediction model has strong prediction and assessment capabilities, enabling the precise identification of patients at risk of AR.
Population labels can be generated directly from targeted next-generation sequencing data
Authors: De Franco Elisa , Russ-Silsby James , Batage Malintha Hewa , Thomas Laver , Wakeling Matthew , Johnson Matthew , Hattersley Andrew , Flanagan Sarah
Published: October 2024

The validity of genetic studies is reliant on the selection of appropriately matched population controls to prevent erroneous associations between population-specific genetic variants and disease. Such studies have traditionally relied on self-declared ethnicity which is likely to produce inaccurate predictions and is ethically problematic. More recently, ancestry informative markers (AIMs) have been used to determine the genetic similarity of an individual to ancestry reference populations. These AIMS, however, mostly reside in the non-coding DNA, making it difficult to determine ancestry from sequencing data which does not cover the whole genome. To address this, we implemented an empirical methodology that utilizes Procrustes analysis and a random forest classification to select genetically similar gnomAD control populations for study samples. This approach avoids the problems associated with using ethnicity as a substitute for genetic similarity and can be used to select suitable controls for studies that rely on exome or targeted sequencing data.
Understanding molecular mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory effects of Machilus macrantha (Gulmavu) in the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway by network pharmacological approach
Authors: MUKHOPADHYAY NABARUN , SEN SIBU , KUMAR ASHISH , SANDBHOR RUJUTA , DIKUNDWAR AMOL G , KAKI VENKATA RAO
Published: October 2024

Background
Inflammation is a critical defense mechanism that mainly occurs in the human body through arachidonic acid metabolism and is needed to maintain a healthy life, but uncontrolled inflammation leads to several diseases like asthma, osteoarthritis, etc. Machilus macrantha is an important Indian medicinal plant that is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic agent but has yet to be explored much. Hence, the present study has been undertaken to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory activity in the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway by using network pharmacology and molecular modelling studies.
Results
Several free online tools and databases like SEA, Swiss target prediction, OMIM, GeneCards, Venny 2.1.0, and STRING were utilized to predict, compile, and filter the anti-inflammatory targets, and a total of 23 targets were obtained throughout the process. Further, by using the topology parameters (degree, betweenness, and closeness) in Cytoscape 3.10.0 software, a total of five hub nodes or genes named PTGS2, NFκβ1, MAPK1, CYP2C8, and CYP2C9 were identified which is mainly associated with arachidonic acid metabolism. KEGG and GO analyses were performed by using the SRplot tool, and it was observed that arachidonic acid metabolism emerged as the top pathway with the lowest P-value and highest fold enrichment. The tissue enrichment studies of the hub genes were also performed using the Human eFP Browser. Finally, a ligand-target-pathway interaction network was created, which proved that the phytoconstituents of M. macrantha interact with multiple molecular targets of arachidonic acid metabolism and showed anti-inflammatory activity. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies proved that a total of three ligands named machigline, machiline, and quercetin exhibited moderate to good binding efficacies toward the hub genes, and machigline and quercetin showed stability in the binding cavity.
Conclusion
From the present study, it can be concluded that the phytocompounds of M. macrantha have significant interactions with anti-inflammatory targets specifically on arachidonic acid metabolism, hence the same can act as an important source for developing novel anti-inflammatory agents.
Rapid Identification and Methicillin Resistance Test to Staphylococcus aureus in Cerebrospinal by MALDI-TOF MS
Authors: Zhang Mengyu Zhang , Wang Xuanxuan Wang , Huang Wei Huang , Ma Ailing Ma , Qin Shuguo Qin , Hu Di Hu , Hu Henggui Hu , Du Du Xiaolei , Zhang Kaixuan Zhang , Zhu Sudi Zhu , Xu Yuanyuan Xu
Published: October 2024

Background: Bacterial meningitis is a disease with high mortality and morbidity, and it primarily manifests as symptoms involving the central nervous system (CNS). Hence, it would be of great importance to make an early diagnosis and initiate empirical antimicrobial treatment in time for this disease.
Methods: In this study, we investigated the feasibility of rapid pathogen identification and drug resistance analysis through the combination of centrifugation-based enrichment of bacteria and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Specifically, the cerebrospinal samples were treated by differential centrifugation to collect precipitates after a short-term rapid culture. Then, the precipitates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Subsequently, the bacterial solution (106 CFU/mL) was mixed with an equal volume of cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (CAMHB) supplemented with cefoxitin (4 µg/mL). After the culture of the mixture, the precipitates obtained by centrifugation were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS.
Results: The efficiency of centrifugation-based enrichment of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was 87.9% at 103 CFU/mL and increased to 90.4% at 102 CFU/mL. This identification efficiency reached 100% after an 8-hour culture. The optimal testing time for bacterial resistance identification was achieved by the culture within 3 hours. The validity, sensitivity, and specificity were all 100% at this time point. The results of the rapid identification method were identical to those of the broth microdilution method.
Conclusion: Through this protocol, the identification and drug resistance analysis of S. aureus in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be completed within 11 hours. These findings are expected to provide a new method for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients with bacterial meningitis.
A cross-sectional survey of experiences and outcomes of using testosterone replacement therapy in UK men
Authors: El-Osta Austen , Liu Vivian , Huang David , Foster Jeff , Johnson Hans , Alaa Aos , Hayhoe Benedict
Published: October 2024

Background
Prevalence of late-onset testosterone deficiency (TD) ranges between 6–30% depending on diagnostic criteria. Recent data highlights various benefits of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) including increased libido, mood, bone-mineral density and lean body mass. This study investigated the personal experiences of men with TD, including access to TRT.
Methods
Previous or current TRT users were recruited from private clinics' mailing lists, professional medical organisations and researchers' professional networks. Participants completed a 52-item structured questionnaire on Qualtrics addressing perceptions and experiences of TRT and low testosterone symptoms. Associations between demographics, duration of symptoms and effectiveness were assessed using logistic regressions.
Results
Among the 905 men on TD treatment, 86% delayed treatment for > 1 year, while 26% experienced symptoms for > 5 year before seeking care. Older men were 1.79 times more likely to delay treatment. The majority (86%) reported TRT as very effective, with longer-term users 2.6 times more likely to report TRT as very effective compared to recent starters. Primary motivations for seeking TRT included improving personal relationships (79%) and physical appearance (53%). Most (81%) relied on online sources for information; fewer (18%) felt comfortable discussing hormonal health with their peers. Patient expectations during medical consultations focussed on diagnosis (77%), treatment options (64%) and learning about potential side effects (51%). The commonest side effects were acne (24%), testicular shrinkage (24%) and nipple itchiness/gynaecomastia (19%). TRT users reported notable improvements in overall quality of life (75%), mental wellbeing (71%), self-esteem and self-confidence (69%) and appearance (61%).
Conclusions
A significant proportion of men > 50 year surveyed reported experiencing prolonged symptoms of TD prior to seeking care. There is a need for greater awareness and education regarding TD symptoms, including streamlining timely and equitable access to effective treatment options.
A case of tuberous sclerosis complex associated lymphangioleiomyomatosis and review of literatures
Authors: Ye Yuan , Tu Lingfang , Shen Lisha , Wang Weina , Zhou Jianya
Published: October 2024

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, insidiously progressive, and low-grade neoplasm that selectively targets the lungs and preferentially affects women of reproductive age. It is characterized by bilaterally-distributed, thin-walled lung cysts. LAM occurs as two main forms, sporadic LAM (S-LAM) or tuberous sclerosis complex associated LAM (TSC-LAM). As an autosomal dominant disorder, TSC is mainly caused by genetic alteration in either TSC1 or TSC2 gene. The clinical manifestations of LAM include recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, progressive dyspnoea, cough, chylothorax, and abdominal pain. Here we report a case of TSC-LAM in a 32-year-old Chinese female patient with a complaint of intermittent non-productive cough for one year. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple thin-walled lung cysts in a bilateral distribution. The patient also had facial angiofibromas, subependymal nodules (SENs), renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs), bone lesions, and elevated level of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D). Whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis demonstrated nonsense mutation in TSC2 gene (c.3094C>T, p.Arg1032), confirming the diagnosis of TSC-LAM. Our aim is to discuss the case of TSC-LAM and review of current literatures including main pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and treatment regimens of this rare disease.
Comparative analysis of the LEA gene family in seven Ipomoea species focuses on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)
Authors: Hu Mengqin , Li Zhenqin , Lin Xiongjian , Tang Binquan , Xing Meng , Zhu Hongbo
Published: October 2024

Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins are extensively distributed among higher plants and are crucial for regulating growth, development, and abiotic stress resistance. However, comprehensive data regarding the LEA gene family in Ipomoea species remains limited. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide comparative analysis across seven Ipomoea species, including sweet potato (I. batatas), I. trifida, I. triloba, I. nil, I. purpurea, I. cairica, and I. aquatica, identifying 73, 64, 77, 62, 70, 70, and 74 LEA genes, respectively. The LEA genes were divided into eight subgroups: LEA_1, LEA_2, LEA_3, LEA_4, LEA_5, LEA_6, SMP, and Dehydrin according to the classification of the LEA family in Arabidopsis. Gene structure and protein motif analyses revealed that genes within the same phylogenetic group exhibited comparable exon/intron structures and motif patterns. The distribution of LEA genes across chromosomes varied among the different Ipomoea species. Duplication analysis indicated that segmental and tandem duplications significantly contributed to the expansion of the LEA gene family, with segmental duplications being the predominant mechanism. The analysis of the non-synonymous (Ka) to synonymous (Ks) ratio (Ka/Ks) indicated that the duplicated Ipomoea LEA genes predominantly underwent purifying selection. Extensive cis-regulatory elements associated with stress responses were identified in the promoters of LEA genes. Expression analysis revealed that the LEA gene exhibited widespread expression across diverse tissues and showed responsive modulation to various abiotic stressors. Furthermore, we selected 15 LEA genes from sweet potatoes for RT-qPCR analysis, demonstrating that five genes responded to salt stress in roots, while three genes were responsive to drought stress in leaves. Additionally, expression levels of seven genes varied at different stages of sweet potato tuber development. These findings enhanced our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of LEA genes within the Ipomoea genome and may inform future molecular breeding strategies for sweet potatoes.
Mitochondrial FIS1 level in cumulus cells correlates with morphological grades of human cleavage-stage embryos
Authors: Sima Yizhen , Shi Sanbao , Chen Yuning , Min Zhunyuan , Lu Yongning , Sha Hongying , Liu Suying
Published: October 2024

Background
Advanced-age women have a lower good-quality embryo rate (GQER) compared to young women. However, GQER varies widely within the same age group, suggesting that factors beyond age influence embryo quality. Mitochondria regulate the metabolism of their host cells through dynamic fission and fusion alterations. Specifically, cumulus cell (CC) mitochondria regulate not only the metabolism of CCs but also of adjacent oocytes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between CC mitochondrial dynamics and oocyte developmental potential post-fertilization.
Methods
CCs were collected from 183 women aged 25–45 undergoing single sperm intracytoplasmic injection-embryo transfer treatments. Samples were stratified by age into young (< 35) and advanced-age (≥ 35) groups. Each group was further subdivided into high and low subgroups based on the Day 3 GQER. Mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, and fission-fusion gene expression were compared among groups and subgroups.
Results
Consistent with the literature, data analysis from our laboratory revealed significant variances in GQER among individuals of the same age group. Morphological analysis suggested a negative correlation between GQER and mitochondrial length in CCs (P < 0.0001, r=-0.38). Live-cell imaging showed that both fission and fusion frequencies of CC mitochondria in the advanced-age group were lower than those in the young group (P = 0.009, P = 0.01). Additionally, within the advanced-age group, CC mitochondria from the low GQER subgroup exhibited lower fission frequency and fission-fusion ratios compared to the high GQER subgroup (P = 0.04, P = 0.01). Consequently, GQER positively correlated with mitochondrial fission-fusion ratio in CCs (P = 0.01, r = 0.44). Notably, there were no significant differences in the expression of mitochondrial fusion-related proteins (OPA1, MFN1, and MFN2) between the advanced-age and young groups or among the subgroups. However, levels of fission proteins, including FIS1 and MFF, were significantly lower in the advanced-age group compared to the young group and in the low GQER subgroup compared to their high GQER counterparts. qPCR results further indicated that fis1 and mff mRNA levels in CCs were positively correlated with GQER (P < 0.0001, r = 0.55; P = 0.0025, r = 0.41).
Conclusions
Mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, and fission-fusion gene expression in CCs influence early embryonic development, independent of age. Of these factors, the FIS1 level shows the most robust correlation with GQER.
Evaluating Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Nephrostomy in Low-Resource Settings: Insights from Northern Nigeria
Authors: Rabiu Abbas , Umar Ahmad Bashir , Lawal Yusuf , Gwadabe Mashhud Hadi , Said Maryam Ahmad , Abdullahi Muzammil , Iya Abdulkarim , Jibrilla Atiku , Dahiru Abubakar , Tabari Abdulkadir Musa , ISMAIL ANAS
Published: October 2024

Objectives: Percutaneous Nephrostomy (PCN) is a procedure that decompresses or provides access to the renal collecting system. There is a dearth of data about the complications and outcomes of PCN in low and middle-income countries. Objectives: This audit will provide insight into the complications and outcomes of PCN in Nigeria.
Methods: This prospective study was on fifty-five patients who had PCN under ultrasound guidance. We obtained pre-PCN and serial serum creatinine on day one, one week, and one month post-PCN. The patients were monitored for two weeks. We also documented whether or not, the patient has continued to be on dialysis or died. The categorical data was expressed as proportions and percentages. The student’s t-test to compare means between groups for continuous variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Up to 32 (58.2%) were males. About 80% of patients had bilateral PCN. Some patients (27.2%) developed minor complications such as pain, wire impaction, bleeding, or vomiting. During the late post-procedure and follow-up periods, 72.7% had no complication, 12.7% had dislodged tube(s), 10.9% had unilateral tube blockage, and 1.8% had bilateral tube blockage.
The study also showed a significant reduction of serum creatinine in 80% of the subjects. 12.7% of the patients died with 5.5% of patients lost to follow-up, and 1.8% had fluctuating creatinine levels.
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided PCN is a safe procedure to relieve obstructive uropathy in our setting. PCN significantly improves patient outcomes when performed judiciously and in inappropriate clinical contexts.
The extract of the Broussonetia papyrifera can be used as a raw material source for the sterility agent of Microtus fortis
Authors: Wang Shuangye , Lan Tian , Zhao Yunlin , Liu Wanfu , Huang Tian , Zhang Meiwen , Hu Zhiyuan , Xu Zhenggang
Published: October 2024

Background: The plant sterilants are studied to control rodent populations with their minimal environmental risk and other ethical considerations. However, the practical utilization was unsatisfactory and stagnant due to high costs and process difficulties. Broussonetia papyrifera is a potential plant material, that showed inhibition to reproduction of Microtus fortis, which usually caused serious damages to crops around the Dongting Lake region, China. The M. fortis were treated with different doses of B. papyrifera leaves methanol extract.
Results: The results showed growth of sex organs were inhibited, male testosterone level and sperm quality reduced. Though there were some positive effects on female, the reproductive parameters of couple voles were also inferior, most treated couple spent more reproductive time, fetal counts and weight were worse. It is also found that M. fortis would obviously negative respond to the extract after the single treatment or long-term repeated treatment rather than the short-term repeated treatment. B. papyrifera leaves showed the more applicative potential of sterilant for male rodents. Conclusions: These findings enrich the study of plant sterilants,and provide insights into the utilization of B. papyrifera and management of rodents. Owing to effectiveness and accessibility of the leaves, the derived sterilant may be more economic in the practice that controlling rodent pest.
Inhibition of Mesenchymal Phenotypes in Glioblastoma by Combined Targeting of NF-κB and STAT3 Pathways
Authors: Ren Xiao , Li Jiabo , Chen Lei , Wang Xuya , Zhang Jinhao , Zhang Yiming , Fan Jikang , Yun Debo , Zhang Chen , Yu Shengping , Yang Xuejun
Published: October 2024

Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype (GBM, WHO grade 4) is the most common and lethal type of brain cancer that is hard to cure. Among the 3 subtypes of GBM, the mesenchymal GBM is characterized by therapeutic resistance and poor outcomes. Here, we found that both STAT3 and NF-κB pathways are abnormally activated in mesenchymal GBM and the patients with higher expression of STAT3 and NF-κB had a poor prognosis in TCGA database. Using the STAT3 inhibitor, Stattic, to suppress the STAT3 signaling in GBM cells. However, it was observed that Stattic alone leads to compensatory activation of the NF-κB signaling. Therefore, we hypothesized that combined inhibition of STAT3 and NF-κB pathways may has a better anti-mesenchymal GBM effect than single signaling inhibition. ACT001, a novel NF-κB inhibitor, combined with Stattic has a synergistic anti-GBM effect, effectively inhibiting GBM proliferation, invasion, migration and promoting apoptosis. RNA-seq analysis showed that combined inhibition of the STAT3 and NF-κB pathways resulted in better suppression of downstream gene PLK4 expression compared to the inhibition of either pathway alone. Overexpression of PLK4 was found to enhance GBM cell proliferation, invasion and migration, while reducing apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that combined targeting of NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways, by acting on PLK4, suppresses proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as promotes apoptosis in the mesenchymal subtype of GBM cells, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for mesenchymal GBM.
PM2.5 concentration prediction based on optimized BiLSTM by WOA
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Zuhan , Wang Lili
Published: October 2024

The problem of haze pollution, mainly caused by delicate particulate matter (PM2.5), is becoming increasingly severe. The coverage of haze weather is constantly expanding, leading to increasing pressure on the urban atmospheric environment. At the same time, it seriously restricts the sustainable development of China's economy and damages the people's health. In response to the problem of poor prediction accuracy of delicate particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration, this work proposes a PM2.5 concentration prediction model based on Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) and Attention Mechanism (AM) optimized Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory Network (BiLSTM), namely the WOA-BiLSTM-ATT model. This model can effectively alleviate the problem of gradient vanishing, better adapt to multiple learning tasks and further enable AM to allocate weights to features to achieve the accurate prediction of PM2.5. The empirical results indicate that the stability and prediction accuracy of the WOA-BiLSTM-ATT model are superior to other models.
Analysis of the Multi-Dimension Risk Factors Associated with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Chunli , Huang Yilong , Wang Guoliang , Xie Kaipeng , Chen Jiaxin , Ma Jiyao , Kui Xiaoling , Luo Jian , Zhao Wenqiong , Zhang Yutao , He Bo
Published: October 2024

Background
Identifying and reducing the risk of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is crucial for patients selecting appropriate treatment modalities. However, there is limited research on the factors contributing to CAI. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of CAI risk factors, including demographics, bone structure, and ligament characteristics, to identify those most closely associated with the condition.
Methods
This retrospective study included patients with CAI who underwent MRI following acute ankle sprains between January 2018 and June 2023. Demographic and clinical data were collected through the 24-month follow-up or electronic medical records. The imaging parameters were measured using the DICOM/PACS system and included the Axial Malleolar Index (AMI), Intermalleolar Index (IMI), Malleolar Talus Index (MTI), external rotation angle of the fibula, retromalleolar groove, signal to noise ratio (SNR), length, cross-sectional area (CSA), width of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), and ATFL-posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) angle. Logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to identify CAI risk factors and assess diagnostic accuracy.
Results
A total of 131 patients with CAI were evaluated, including 78 women and 33 men. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the 6 risk factors associated with CAI included height (odds ratio (OR) 1.09, 95% CI 0.56–6.26, P < 0.05), ATFL-PTFL angle (OR, 1.12, 95%CI, 1.07–1.17, P < 0.001), IMI (OR, 1.15, 95%CI, 1.04–1.27, P < 0.05), the external rotation angle of the fibula (OR, 0.81, 95%CI, 0.72–0.90, P < 0.001), the SNR of ATFL(OR, 1.10, 95%CI, 1.00-1.21, P < 0.05), the retromalleolar groove (OR, 3.59, 95%CI, 1.49–8.63, P < 0.05). The ATFL-PTFL angle had the highest diagnostic performance for CAI, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.77, a positive likelihood ratio of 5.84 (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
MRI can be a valuable tool for the detection of risk factors associated with CAI. Our findings will offer valuable insights for the diagnosis and treatment of CAI in clinical settings.
Revalorization of tidal waste as a sustainable cellulose source
Authors: Moral Ana , Greyer Valeria , Aguado Roberto J. , Tijero Antonio
Published: October 2024

The increase of non-native species in the seas and eutrophication cause accumulation of seaweed and marine plants on coasts that become waste. Marine biomass residues are abandoned or sent to landfills at considerable cost. The aim of this work is to revalue tidal waste as a cellulosic material. Cellulose was isolated using minimal environmental impact (clean) technologies in two stages, first one with sodium hydroxide and anthraquinone, and the second with alkaline hydrogen peroxide. Product were characterized by evaluating the contents on α-cellulose, ash, ethanol-benzene extractives, holocellulose, hot water-soluble compounds and lignin, also, yield was calculated. For identifying the optimal operating conditions, we used response surface methodology (central composite design) which allowed to model the treatment conditions. Under optimal conditions, α-cellulose and holocellulose contents were 87.21% and 54.31% respectively. The hot water-soluble fraction of 30.81% can potentially be refined to obtain value-added compounds, allowing extraction to be adapted to an integrated biorefinery process.
The Mediating Role of Psychological Contract Breach in the Influence of Leader-Member Exchange on Quiet Quitting Among Coaches
Authors: BARAN Hilal , KARAVELİOĞLU Ceren , KARAVELİOĞLU Mihri Barış
Published: October 2024

Background: The research is intended to clarify the relationship among leader-member exchange (LMX) quiet quitting and psychological contract breach variables grounded in social exchange theory which explains the motivations individuals exhibit in reciprocal relationships. Additionally it seeks to elucidate the mediating function of psychological contract breach in the association between LMX and quiet quitting.
Methods: The research model was evaluated using regression and mediation analyses on data obtained from 294 coaches.
Results: The research findings indicate that LMX diminishes the perception of psychological contract breach. This finding indicates that coaches with robust LMX will experience diminished perceptions of psychological contract breach subsequently reducing their quiet quitting behaviors.
Ethics approval number: 244222 date of registration: 17/11/2023
Conclusion: LMX adversely impacts psychological contract breach and quiet quitting whereas psychological contract breach positively influences quiet quitting. Furthermore the perception of psychological contract breach mediates the relationship between LMX and quiet quitting.
IL2RG’s Expression and its associated Long Non-Coding RNAs signature in ccRCC: Development, Validation, and Im-plications for Diagnosis,Prognosis,and Treatment
Authors: Hu Weijing , Chen Yongquan , Guo Xiaoling , Wang Xiaosong , Wang Dongwen , Wu Bo
Published: October 2024

Background: Interleukin-2 Receptor Subunit Gamma (IL2RG) has been implicated in various cancers, but its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore IL2RG expression, its relationship with IL2RG -related lncRNAs (IRLs).
Methods: qRT-PCR and IHC were used to assess IL2RG expression in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Pearson correlation analysis identified IRLs related to IL2RG, and LASSO regression was applied to develop a prognostic model. We also conducted drug sensitivity analysis.
Results: IL2RG was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues and correlated with advanced clinical stages (p<0.001). High IL2RG expression was linked to worse overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI) (p<0.05). A 6-IRLs signature was identified, and the resulting model accurately predicted survival outcomes. Immune-related pathways were enriched in high-risk patients, and drug sensitivity analysis indicated that high-risk patients were more responsive to sunitinib and temsirolimus.
Conclusions: IL2RG and its related 6-IRLs are potential biomarkers for ccRCC progression. The 6-IRLs model provides a robust tool for predicting prognosis and guiding therapeutic decisions.