bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of mindfulness and fatigue on emotional processing: an event-related potentials study
Authors: Fan Jialin , Li Wenjing , Lin Mingping , Li Xinqi , Deng Xinmei
Published: May 2023

Fatigue is a common experience in everyday life. People who experience fatigue will have more intense negative emotions, and at the same time, their positive emotions will decrease, impairing the individual’s emotional processing ability. In previous research, mindfulness meditation reduces the intensity of negative emotional stimuli. However, if individuals continue to be affected by negative emotions when they are fatigued, it is unclear whether mindfulness can buffer the negative association between fatigue and emotions. This study examined whether mindfulness meditation affects the association between fatigue and emotions, using event-related potentials (ERPs). One hundred and forty-five participants completed the experiment. They were randomly assigned to the Mindfulness or Non-mindfulness group; and they were presented with positive, neutral, or negative pictures in an emotional processing task before and after mindfulness or rest. Late positive potential (LPP) is an important indicator of emotional stimuli perceived by individuals, and positive or negative pictures can induce an increase in LPP amplitude more than neutral pictures. Our findings suggest that fatigue significantly affected individuals’ LPP amplitudes in the early, mid, and late windows in the Non-mindfulness group, specifically, the more fatigued individuals had lower LPP amplitudes, but not in the Mindfulness group. These results suggest that in a state of fatigue, mindful individuals are able to maintain responsiveness to emotional stimuli by maintaining LPP amplitude. Our study has demonstrated that mindfulness meditation, to some extent, offsets the negative association of fatigue with the neural activation of emotions.
Development under predation risk increases serotonin-signaling, variability of turning behavior and survival in adult fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Krama Tatjana , Munkevics Māris , Krams Ronalds , Grigorjeva Tatjana , Trakimas Giedrius , Jõers Priit , Popovs Sergejs , Zants Krists , Elferts Didzis , Rantala Markus J. , Sledevskis Eriks , Contreras-Garduño Jorge , de Bivort Benjamin L. , Krams Indrikis A.
Published: May 2023

The development of high-throughput behavioral assays, where numerous individual animals can be analyzed in various experimental conditions, has facilitated the study of animal personality. Previous research showed that isogenic Drosophila melanogaster flies exhibit striking individual non-heritable locomotor handedness. The variability of this trait, i.e., the predictability of left-right turn biases, varies across genotypes and under the influence of neural activity in specific circuits. This suggests that the brain can dynamically regulate the extent of animal personality. It has been recently shown that predators can induce changes in prey phenotypes via lethal or non-lethal effects affecting the serotonergic signaling system. In this study, we tested whether fruit flies grown with predators exhibit higher variability/lower predictability in their turning behavior and higher survival than those grown with no predators in their environment. We confirmed these predictions and found that both effects were blocked when flies were fed an inhibitor (αMW) of serotonin synthesis. The results of this study demonstrate a negative association between the unpredictability of turning behavior of fruit flies and the hunting success of their predators. We also show that the neurotransmitter serotonin controls predator-induced changes in the turning variability of fruit flies, regulating the dynamic control of behavioral predictability.
Comparison of LSTM, Transformers, and MLP-mixer neural networks for gaze based human intention prediction
Authors: Pettersson Julius , Falkman Petter
Published: May 2023

Collaborative robots have gained popularity in industries, providing flexibility and increased productivity for complex tasks. However, their ability to interact with humans and adapt to their behavior is still limited. Prediction of human movement intentions is one way to improve the robots adaptation. This paper investigates the performance of using Transformers and MLP-Mixer based neural networks to predict the intended human arm movement direction, based on gaze data obtained in a virtual reality environment, and compares the results to using an LSTM network. The comparison will evaluate the networks based on accuracy on several metrics, time ahead of movement completion, and execution time. It is shown in the paper that there exists several network configurations and architectures that achieve comparable accuracy scores. The best performing Transformers encoder presented in this paper achieved an accuracy of 82.74%, for predictions with high certainty, on continuous data and correctly classifies 80.06% of the movements at least once. The movements are, in 99% of the cases, correctly predicted the first time, before the hand reaches the target and more than 19% ahead of movement completion in 75% of the cases. The results shows that there are multiple ways to utilize neural networks to perform gaze based arm movement intention prediction and it is a promising step toward enabling efficient human-robot collaboration.
Identification and cross-validation of autophagy-related genes in cardioembolic stroke
Authors: Yang Yufang , Zhang Min , Li Ziqing , He Shen , Ren Xueqi , Wang Linmei , Wang Zhifei , Shu Shi
Published: May 2023

Objective

Cardioembolic stroke (CE stroke, also known as cardiogenic cerebral embolism, CCE) has the highest recurrence rate and fatality rate among all subtypes of ischemic stroke, the pathogenesis of which was unclear. Autophagy plays an essential role in the development of CE stroke. We aim to identify the potential autophagy-related molecular markers of CE stroke and uncover the potential therapeutic targets through bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

The mRNA expression profile dataset GSE58294 was obtained from the GEO database. The potential autophagy-related differentially expressed (DE) genes of CE stroke were screened by R software. Protein–protein interactions (PPIs), correlation analysis, and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were applied to the autophagy-related DE genes. GSE66724, GSE41177, and GSE22255 were introduced for the verification of the autophagy-related DE genes in CE stroke, and the differences in values were re-calculated by Student’s t-test.

Results

A total of 41 autophagy-related DE genes (37 upregulated genes and four downregulated genes) were identified between 23 cardioembolic stroke patients (≤3 h, prior to treatment) and 23 healthy controls. The KEGG and GO enrichment analysis of autophagy-related DE genes indicated several enriched terms related to autophagy, apoptosis, and ER stress. The PPI results demonstrated the interactions between these autophagy-related genes. Moreover, several hub genes, especially for CE stroke, were identified and re-calculated by Student’s t-test.

Conclusion

We identified 41 potential autophagy-related genes associated with CE stroke through bioinformatics analysis. SERPINA1, WDFY3, ERN1, RHEB, and BCL2L1 were identified as the most significant DE genes that may affect the development of CE stroke by regulating autophagy. CXCR4 was identified as a hub gene of all types of strokes. ARNT, MAPK1, ATG12, ATG16L2, ATG2B, and BECN1 were identified as particular hub genes for CE stroke. These results may provide insight into the role of autophagy in CE stroke and contribute to the discovery of potential therapeutic targets for CE stroke treatment.
Peripheral nervous system involvement in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a review of the current pediatric literature
Authors: Perilli Lorenzo , Fetta Marina , Capponi Martina , Guido Cristiana Alessia , Grosso Salvatore , Iannetti Paola , Spalice Alberto
Published: May 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the pathogen responsible for the pandemic health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020. During the first part of the pandemic, adults showed mild to severe respiratory symptoms. Children seemed initially exempt, both from acute and subsequent complications. Hyposmia or anosmia were promptly identified as the main symptoms of acute infection, so neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 was immediately suspected. (1, 2). As the emergency progressed, post infectious neurological complications were described also in pediatric population (3). Cases of cranial neuropathy in connection with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported in pediatric patients, as an isolate post infectious complication or in the context of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) (4–6). Neuroinflammation is thought to be caused by several mechanisms, among which immune/autoimmune reactions (7), but so far, no specific autoantibody has been identified. SARS-CoV-2 can enter the central nervous system (CNS) directly and/or infect it retrogradely, through the peripheral nervous system (PNS), after replicating peripherally; several factors regulate invasion and subsequent neuroinflammation. Indeed, direct/secondary entry and replication can activate CNS-resident immune cells that, together with peripheral leukocytes, induce an immune response and promote neuroinflammation. In addition, as we will discuss in the following review, many cases of peripheral neuropathy (cranial and non-cranial) have been reported during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, some authors have pointed out that the increase of cranial roots and ganglia in neurological imaging is not always observed in children with cranial neuropathy. (8). Even if a variety of case reports were published, opinions about an increased incidence of such neurologic diseases, linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, are still controversial (9–11). Facial nerve palsy, ocular movements abnormalities and vestibular alterations are among the most reported issues in pediatric population (3–5). Moreover, an increased screen exposure imposed by social distancing led to acute oculomotion’s disturbance in children, not primarily caused by neuritis (12, 13). The aim of this review is to suggest food for thought on the role of SARS-CoV-2 in neurological conditions, affecting the peripheral nervous system to optimize the management and care of pediatric patients.
The establishment and validation of a prediction model for traumatic intracranial injury patients: a reliable nomogram
Authors: Chen Jia Yi , Jin Guang Yong , Zeng Long Huang , Ma Bu Qing , Chen Hui , Gu Nan Yuan , Qiu Kai , Tian Fu , Pan Lu , Hu Wei , Liang Dong Cheng
Published: May 2023

Objective

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to death and disability. This study developed an effective prognostic nomogram for assessing the risk factors for TBI mortality.

Method

Data were extracted from an online database called “Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care IV” (MIMIC IV). The ICD code obtained data from 2,551 TBI persons (first ICU stay, >18 years old) from this database. R divided samples into 7:3 training and testing cohorts. The univariate analysis determined whether the two cohorts differed statistically in baseline data. This research used forward stepwise logistic regression after independent prognostic factors for these TBI patients. The optimal variables were selected for the model by the optimal subset method. The optimal feature subsets in pattern recognition improved the model prediction, and the minimum BIC forest of the high-dimensional mixed graph model achieved a better prediction effect. A nomogram-labeled TBI-IHM model containing these risk factors was made by nomology in State software. Least Squares OLS was used to build linear models, and then the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. The TBI-IHM nomogram model's validity was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs), correction curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and decision-curve analysis (DCA).

Result

The eight features with a minimal BIC model were mannitol use, mechanical ventilation, vasopressor use, international normalized ratio, urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, and cerebrovascular disease. The proposed nomogram (TBI-IHM model) was the best mortality prediction model, with better discrimination and superior model fitting for severely ill TBI patients staying in ICU. The model's receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was the best compared to the seven other models. It might be clinically helpful for doctors to make clinical decisions.

Conclusion

The proposed nomogram (TBI-IHM model) has significant potential as a clinical utility in predicting mortality in TBI patients.
Chaudhuri’s Dashboard of Vitals in Parkinson’s syndrome: an unmet need underpinned by real life clinical tests
Authors: Qamar Mubasher A. , Rota Silvia , Batzu Lucia , Subramanian Indu , Falup-Pecurariu Cristian , Titova Nataliya , Metta Vinod , Murasan Iulia , Odin Per , Padmakumar Chandrasekhara , Kukkle Prashanth L. , Borgohain Rupam , Kandadai Rukmini Mridula , Goyal Vinay , Ray Chaudhuri Kallol
Published: May 2023

We have recently published the notion of the “vitals” of Parkinson’s, a conglomeration of signs and symptoms, largely nonmotor, that must not be missed and yet often not considered in neurological consultations, with considerable societal and personal detrimental consequences. This “dashboard,” termed the Chaudhuri’s vitals of Parkinson’s, are summarized as 5 key vital symptoms or signs and comprise of (a) motor, (b) nonmotor, (c) visual, gut, and oral health, (d) bone health and falls, and finally (e) comorbidities, comedication, and dopamine agonist side effects, such as impulse control disorders. Additionally, not addressing the vitals also may reflect inadequate management strategies, leading to worsening quality of life and diminished wellness, a new concept for people with Parkinson’s. In this paper, we discuss possible, simple to use, and clinically relevant tests that can be used to monitor the status of these vitals, so that these can be incorporated into clinical practice. We also use the term Parkinson’s syndrome to describe Parkinson’s disease, as the term “disease” is now abandoned in many countries, such as the U.K., reflecting the heterogeneity of Parkinson’s, which is now considered by many as a syndrome.
Impact of an automated large vessel occlusion detection tool on clinical workflow and patient outcomes
Authors: Soun Jennifer E. , Zolyan Anna , McLouth Joel , Elstrott Sebastian , Nagamine Masaki , Liang Conan , Dehkordi-Vakil Farideh H. , Chu Eleanor , Floriolli David , Kuoy Edward , Joseph John , Abi-Jaoudeh Nadine , Chang Peter D. , Yu Wengui , Chow Daniel S.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Automated large vessel occlusion (LVO) tools allow for prompt identification of positive LVO cases, but little is known about their role in acute stroke triage when implemented in a real-world setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the automated LVO detection tool’s impact on acute stroke workflow and clinical outcomes.

Materials and methods

Consecutive patients with a computed tomography angiography (CTA) presenting with suspected acute ischemic stroke were compared before and after the implementation of an AI tool, RAPID LVO (RAPID 4.9, iSchemaView, Menlo Park, CA). Radiology CTA report turnaround times (TAT), door-to-treatment times, and the NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) after treatment were evaluated.

Results

A total of 439 cases in the pre-AI group and 321 cases in the post-AI group were included, with 62 (14.12%) and 43 (13.40%) cases, respectively, receiving acute therapies. The AI tool demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.96, a specificity of 0.85, a negative predictive value of 0.99, and a positive predictive value of 0.53. Radiology CTA report TAT significantly improved post-AI (mean 30.58 min for pre-AI vs. 22 min for post-AI, p < 0.0005), notably at the resident level (p < 0.0003) but not at higher levels of expertise. There were no differences in door-to-treatment times, but the NIHSS at discharge was improved for the pre-AI group adjusted for confounders (parameter estimate = 3.97, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Implementation of an automated LVO detection tool improved radiology TAT but did not translate to improved stroke metrics and outcomes in a real-world setting.
Atypical responses to faces during binocular rivalry in early glaucoma
Authors: Issashar Leibovitzh Galia , Trope Graham E. , Kherani Irfan N. , Buys Yvonne M. , Tarita-Nistor Luminita
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy that damages retinal ganglion cells and a neurodegenerative disease as it affects neural structures throughout the brain. In this study, we examined binocular rivalry responses in patients with early glaucoma in order to probe the function of stimulus-specific cortical areas involved in face perception.

Methods

Participants included 14 individuals (10 females, mean age 65 ± 7 years) with early pre-perimetric glaucoma and 14 age-matched healthy controls (7 females, mean age 59 ± 11 years). The 2 groups were equivalent in visual acuity and stereo-acuity. Three binocular rivalry stimulus pairs were used: (1) real face/house, (2) synthetic face/noise patch, and (3) synthetic face/spiral. For each stimulus pair, the images were matched in size and contrast level; they were viewed dichotically, and presented centrally and eccentrically at 3 degrees in the right (RH) and in the left hemifield (LH), respectively. The outcome measures were rivalry rate (i.e., perceptual switches/min) and time of exclusive dominance of each stimulus.

Results

For the face/house stimulus pair, rivalry rate of the glaucoma group (11 ± 6 switches/min) was significantly lower than that of the control group (15 ± 5 switches/min), but only in the LH location. The face dominated longer than the house in the LH for both groups. Likewise, for the synthetic face/noise patch stimulus pair, rivalry rate of the glaucoma group (11 ± 6 switches/min) was lower than that of the control group (16 ± 7 switches/min) in the LH, but the difference failed to reach significance. Interestingly, the mixed percept dominated less in glaucoma than in the control group. For the synthetic face/spiral stimulus pair, the glaucoma group had lower rivalry rate at all 3 stimulus locations.

Conclusion

This study reveals atypical responses to faces during binocular rivalry in patients with early glaucoma. The results may be suggestive of early neurodegeneration affecting stimulus-specific neural structures involved in face processing starting in the pre-perimetric phase of the disease.
Brain glucose metabolism on [18F]-FDG PET/CT: a dynamic biomarker predicting depression and anxiety in cancer patients
Authors: Yang Xue , Yang Guangxia , Wang Ruojun , Wang Yanjuan , Zhang Shengyi , Wang Jian , Yu Chunjing , Ren Zeqin
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To explore the correlation between the incidence rates of depression and anxiety and cerebral glucose metabolism in cancer patients.

Methods

The experiment subjects consisted of patients with lung cancer, head and neck tumor, stomach cancer, intestinal cancer, breast cancer and healthy individuals. A total of 240 tumor patients and 39 healthy individuals were included. All subjects were evaluated by the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and Manifest anxiety scale (MAS), and were examined by whole body Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Demographic, baseline clinical characteristics, brain glucose metabolic changes, emotional disorder scores and their relations were statistically analyzed.

Results

The incidence rates of depression and anxiety in patients with lung cancer were higher than those in patients with other tumors, and Standard uptake values (SUVs) and metabolic volume in bilateral frontal lobe, bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral caudate nucleus, bilateral hippocampus, left cingulate gyrus were lower than those in patients with other tumors. We also found that poor pathological differentiation, and advanced TNM stage independently associated with depression and anxiety risk. SUVs in the bilateral frontal lobe, bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral caudate nucleus, bilateral hippocampus, left cingulate gyrus were negatively correlated with HAMD and MAS scores.

Conclusion

This study revealed the correlation between brain glucose metabolism and emotional disorders in cancer patients. The changes in brain glucose metabolism were expected to play a major role in emotional disorders in cancer patients as psychobiological markers. These findings indicated that functional imaging can be applied for psychological assessment of cancer patients as an innovative method.
A case report of surgical resection treatment for complete remission after chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Zhang Zhongyan , Lin Hongfeng , Li Hehe , Wang Xin
Published: May 2023

Pancreatic cancer is a common type of cancer that is treated using surgery or chemotherapy. However, for patients who cannot have surgery, the treatment options are limited and have a low success rate. We report a case of a patient with locally advanced pancreatic cancer who was unable to have surgery due to a tumor that had invaded the coeliac axis and portal vein. However, after receiving chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel(GEM-NabP), the patient achieved complete remission, and a PET-CT scan confirmed that the tumor had disappeared. Eventually, the patient underwent radical surgery with distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, and the treatment was successful. This case is rare, and there are few reports of complete remission after chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. This article reviews the relevant literature and guides future clinical practice
TFG::ALK fusion in ALK positive large B-cell lymphoma: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Xiao Andrew , Shahmarvand Nahid , Nagy Alexandra , Kumar Jyoti , Van Ziffle Jessica , Devine Patrick , Huang Franklin , Lezama Lhara , Li Peng , Ohgami Robert S.
Published: May 2023

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive large B-cell lymphoma (ALK+ LBCL) is an aggressive and rare subtype of B-cell lymphoma. Patients typically present with advanced clinical stage disease and do not respond to conventional chemotherapy; the median overall survival is 1.8 years. The genetic landscape of this entity remains poorly understood. Here we report a unique case of ALK+ LBCL harbouring a rare TFG::ALK fusion. Targeted next-generation sequencing showed no significant single nucleotide variants, insertions/deletions, or other structural variants beyond the TFG::ALK fusion; deep deletions of FOXO1, PRKCA, and the MYB locus were also detected. Our case report draws attention to this rare disease, highlights a need for larger genetic profiling studies, and focuses on the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of this aggressive disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a TFG::ALK fusion in ALK+ LBCL.
Antibody-drug conjugates: the clinical development in gastric cancer
Authors: Zhu Yingze , Zhou Miao , Kong Wenyue , Li Congling
Published: May 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive system worldwide, ranking among the top five in terms of incidence and mortality. However, the clinical efficacy of conventional treatments for gastric cancer remains limited, with a median overall survival of approximately eight months for advanced cases. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as a promising approach. ADCs are potent chemical drugs that selectively target cancer cells by binding to specific cell surface receptors with antibodies. Notably, ADCs have demonstrated promising results in clinical studies and have made significant strides in the treatment of gastric cancer. Currently, several ADCs are under investigation in clinical trials for gastric cancer patients, targeting various receptors such as EGFR, HER-2, HER-3, CLDN18.2, Mucin 1, among others. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of ADC drug characteristics and provides an overview of the research progress in ADC-based therapies for gastric cancer.
The influence of cultural and religious factors on cross-national variations in the prevalence of chronic back and neck pain: an analysis of data from the global burden of disease 2019 study
Authors: Rajkumar Ravi Philip
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Low back pain and neck pain are among the most commonly reported forms of chronic pain worldwide, and are associated with significant distress, disability and impairment in quality of life. Though these categories of pain can be analyzed and treated from a biomedical perspective, there is evidence that they are both related to psychological variables such as depression and anxiety. The experience of pain can be significantly influenced by cultural values. For example, cultural beliefs and attitudes can influence the meaning attached to the experience of pain, the responses of others to a sufferer's pain, and the likelihood of seeking medical care for particular symptoms. Likewise, religious beliefs and practices can influence the both experience of pain and the responses to it. These factors have also been associated with variations in the severity of depression and anxiety.

Methods

In the current study, data on the estimated national prevalence of both low back pain and neck pain, obtained from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2019), is analyzed in relation to cross-national variations in cultural values, as measured using Hofstede's model (n =115 countries) and in religious belief and practice, based on the most recent Pew Research Center survey (n = 105 countries). To address possible confounding factors, these analyses were adjusted for variables known to be associated with chronic low back or neck pain, namely smoking, alcohol use, obesity, anxiety, depression and insufficient physical activity.

Results

It was found that the cultural dimensions of Power Distance and Collectivism were inversely correlated with the prevalence of chronic low back pain, and Uncertainty Avoidance was inversely correlated with the prevalence of chronic neck pain, even after adjustment for potential confounders. Measures of religious affiliation and practice were negatively correlated with the prevalence of both conditions, but these associations were not significant after adjusting for cultural values and confounders.

Discussion

These results highlight the existence of meaningful cross-cultural variations in the occurrence of common forms of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Psychological and social factors that could account for these variations are reviewed, along with their implications for the holistic management of patients with these disorders.
A novel pathogenic variant of DNMT3A associated with craniosynostosis: a case report of Heyn–Sproul–Jackson syndrome
Authors: Kim Ga Hye , Kim Jaewon , Lee Jaewoong , Jang Dae-Hyun
Published: May 2023

Pathogenic variants of DNMT3A have been implicated in Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, an overgrowth disorder with macrocephaly and intellectual disability. However, there are recent reports of variants in the same gene giving rise to an opposing clinical phenotype presenting with microcephaly, growth failure, and impaired development—named Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome (HESJAS). Here, we present a case of HESJAS caused by a novel pathogenic variant of DNMT3A. A five-year-old girl presented with severe developmental delay. Perinatal and family history were non-contributory. Physical exam showed microcephaly and facial dysmorphic features, and neurodevelopmental assessments revealed profound global developmental delay. Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings were normal; however, brain 3D computed tomography revealed craniosynostosis. Next generation sequencing revealed a novel heterozygous variant in DNMT3A (NM_175629.2: c.1012_1014 + 3del). The patient's parents did not carry the variant. In this report, a novel feature associated with HESJAS (craniosynostosis) is described, along with a more detailed account of clinical manifestations than those in the original report.
Black tea bioactive phytoconstituents realign NRF2 for anticancer activity in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Datta Suchisnigdha , Bishayee Anupam , Sinha Dona
Published: May 2023

Constitutive activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is pivotal in bestowing therapy resistance in cancer cells. Several phytochemicals have been reported with the potential of modulating NRF2. Therefore, it was hypothesized that NRF2-deregulated chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) may be counteracted by theaflavin-rich black tea (BT). A non-responsive LUAD cell line, A549, was the best sensitized towards cisplatin upon pre-treatment with BT. BT-mediated NRF2 reorientation was observed to be dependent on concentration and duration of treatment as well as on the mutational profile of NRF2 in A549 cells. Transient exposure of low-concentration BT hormetically downregulated NRF2, its downstream antioxidants, and drug transporter. BT also influenced the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein (KEAP1)-dependent cullin 3 (Cul3) and KEAP-1-independent signaling through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) - rat sarcoma virus (RAS) - rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF) - extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK) - matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. The realignment of NRF2 in KEAP1-suppressed A549 cells enhanced the chemotherapeutic outcome. But a higher concentration of the same BT surprisingly upregulated NRF2 and its transcriptional targets with a subsequent decrease in the NRF2-regulatory machinery in NCI-H23 cells (a KEAP1-overexpressed LUAD cell line), ultimately resulting in a better anticancer response. The BT-mediated bidirectional NRF2 modulation was reconfirmed upon comparison with the action of a pharmacological NRF2 inhibitor, ML-385, in A549 and a known NRF2 activator, tertiary-butylhydroquinone, in NCI-H23 respectively. BT-mediated regulation of NRF2-KEAP1 and their upstream networks (EGFR/RAS/RAF/ERK) sufficed as a better anticancer agent than synthetic NRF2 modulators. Therefore, BT may be indicated as a potent multi-modal small molecule for increasing drug responsiveness in LUAD cells by maintaining NRF2/KEAP1 axis at an optimum level.
Physically significant solitary wave solutions to the space-time fractional Landau–Ginsburg–Higgs equation via three consistent methods
Authors: Zulqarnain Rana Muhammad , Ma Wen-Xiu , Mehdi Khush Bukht , Siddique Imran , Hassan Ahmed M. , Askar Sameh
Published: May 2023

The Landau–Ginzburg–Higgs equation (LGHE) is a mathematical model used to describe nonlinear waves that exhibit weak scattering and long-range connections in the tropical and mid-latitude troposphere as interactions between equatorial and mid-latitude Rossby waves. This study assessed the fractional Landau–Ginzburg–Higgs model, previously introduced in truncated M-fractional derivatives utilizing the G′/G,1/G, modified G′/G2, and new auxiliary equation methods. Using these techniques, different solutions, including unknown parameters, were obtained in trigonometric, hyperbolic, and exponential functions. This study investigated how varying values of the fractional parameter affected the deeds of the solutions obtained for the given conditions. The predicted solutions, obtained under restricted conditions, were visualized through 2D, 3D, and contour plots using appropriate parameter values. The attained results were confirmed for the aforementioned equations using symbolic soft computations. Moreover, the outcomes confirmed that the methods used in this study were effective mathematical tools for discovering exact solitary wave solutions to nonlinear models encountered in various areas of science and engineering.
Investigating the impact of inter-limb asymmetry in hamstring strength on jump, sprint, and strength performance in young athletes: comparing the role of gross force
Authors: Jiang Dongting , Liu Zijian , Ling Xiaoyu , Dai Jinjin , Long Lijun , Lu Yongren , Zhou Shengqing
Published: May 2023

The main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the impact of the inter-limb asymmetry of hamstring strength on jump, sprint and strength performance and to compare the effects of inter-limb asymmetry of hamstring strength with gross force (GF) of the hamstring on these physical qualities in youth volleyball athletes. Eighty-one youth volleyball players (age: 16.6 ± 1.9 years; training experience: 3.0 ± 0.9 years; height: 191.4 ± 7.1 cm; body mass: 78.5 ± 12.9 kg; lean body mass: 63.5 ± 10.5 kg; body fat rate: 18.6% ± 6.1%) performed a mid-season battery of tests consisting of morphological test, depth jump (DJ), counter movement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), 10 m sprint, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and hamstring strength test. All tests reported good to excellent reliability (ICC range = 0.815–0.996) and acceptable variability (CV range = 3.26–7.84%). Results show a significant negative relationship between inter-limb asymmetry of hamstring strength and all physical qualities (r = −0.271 to −0.445; p < 0.05), and a significant positive relationship between GF of hamstring and all physical qualities (r = 0.303 to 0.664; p < 0.05). Additionally, GF of hamstring was more relevant to IMTP-PF (peak force) (r = 0.664) and inter-limb asymmetry of hamstring strength was more relevant to 10 m sprint (r = −0.445). The findings from this study indicate that, for youth athletes, the GF of the hamstring is crucial for overall lower limb strength performance, and the importance of inter-limb symmetry of hamstring strength increases with the complexity of the task.
Association between self-reported oral health and cognitive function among the community-dwelling elderly in Jinan, China: the mediating effect of life satisfaction
Authors: Liu Guangwen , Lu Zhongqian , Shan Ying , Wang Jieru , Shi Xinfei , Zong Di , Li Shixue , Kong Fanlei
Published: May 2023

Background

Deterioration of self-reported oral health and decline in cognitive function are two main adverse health outcomes experienced by the older adults. Little evidence was found on the psychosocial mechanism between self-reported oral health and cognitive function. This study explores the association between self-reported oral health and cognitive function and examines the mediating effect of life satisfaction among the community-dwelling elderly in Jinan, China.

Methods

A total of 512 older individuals (60+) were included in the study. Cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination scale (MMSE), and self-reported oral health was measured using the Chinese version of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between self-reported oral health, life satisfaction, and cognitive function. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the possible effect of covariates. Structural equation modelling and Bootstrap analyses were conducted to verify the mediating role of life satisfaction.

Results

The mean MMSE score was 25.65 ± 4.42. Better self-reported oral health was significantly associated with a higher level of life satisfaction, and those with higher life satisfaction experienced better cognitive function. Age, educational level and source of living expenses were found to be cofounding variables. Life satisfaction partially mediated the effect of self-reported oral health on cognitive function (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.010 to 0.075). The mediating effect of life satisfaction accounted for 24% of the total effect.

Conclusion

The level of cognitive function was relatively high. Self-reported oral health was positively associated with cognitive function, and the mediating effect of life satisfaction was proven to exist in the community-dwelling older individuals. Early screening for oral diseases and a greater focus on life satisfaction are recommended.
Code-switching costs from Chinese-English relative clauses processing
Authors: Hu Wanying , Zhao Yang
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The source of costs is a primary concern in code-switching, yet a consensus has not yet been reached. This study investigates whether code-switching during syntactic processing in Chinese-English dual languages results in a cost.

Methods

We use Chinese and English relative clauses in either object (Experiment 1) or subject (Experiment 2, which has a more complex structure) positions to test the costs in syntactic processing. Forty-seven Chinese-English bilinguals and 17 English-Chinese bilinguals participated in acceptability judgment tests and self-paced reading experiments.

Results

The statistical findings indicate that syntactic processing is a source of the costs incurred in code-switching, as evidenced by the code-switching costs observed in the head movement during relative clause comprehension.

Discussion

The outcomes are consistent with the implications of the 4-Morpheme Model and the Matrix Language Framework. Additionally, the experiment shows that the processing of relative clauses depends on the underlying structures, which is consistent with the Dependency Locality Theory.
Organizational adaptation to working from home in a crisis situation (COVID-19): the interaction between leaders’ openness and followers’ voice
Authors: Buzás Barnabás , Faragó Klára
Published: May 2023

Introduction

We investigated the effect of time spent at home on employee voice behavior and leadership openness during Covid 19. According to DeRue’s adaptive leadership theory which offers an interactionist perspective to explain adaptive organizational behavior during an environmental crisis, we proposed that in the WFH’s (work from home) reduced and limited communication space, leaders, who need more feedback, will encourage employees to express their opinions and will show more willingness to listen to them. Meanwhile, employees will ask more questions and make more suggestions to alleviate uncertainty and misunderstanding.

Methods

Using an online questionnaire, a cross-sectional study (N = 424) has been carried out with employees working from home for a different amount of their working time during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using structural equation models (SEM) in which the effect of leadership openness on employee voice behavior was assessed through the mediation of affective commitment, psychological safety, and intrinsic motivation.

Results

The results showed that in the WFH situation, time spent in home office had a low but significant direct negative effect on promotive voice behavior. At the same time, leadership openness was growing with the amount of time spent at home. Leadership openness counteracted the negative effect of WFH on voice behavior: although leadership openness did not have a direct significant effect on voice behavior, it had a positive effect on psychological safety and work motivation which, in turn, influenced positively both promotive and prohibitive voice behavior. Employee’s voice, for its part, further augmented leadership openness.

Discussion

In our research we could demonstrate the contingent nature and the mutual influence patterns and feedback loops of leaders-employees exchange. In the WFH situation the openness of the leader is growing with the amount of time spent at home and with the amount of promotive voice manifested by the employee. In consent with DeRue social interactionist adaptive leadership theory, a mutually reinforcing process of leadership openness and employee voice could be demonstrated. We argue that leadership openness is a key factor to motivate employee voice behavior during WFH.
Separate units for incarcerated people who committed sexual offenses: luxury or necessity?
Authors: Wuyts Elise , De Boeck Minne , Dilliën Tineke , Merckx Liesbeth , Uzieblo Kasia , De Koster Katrien , De Schutter Astrid , Goethals Kris
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The policy on treatment of people who commit sexual offenses (PSOs) varies greatly across countries, creating different treatment environments. This study was conducted in Flanders (i.e., the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) where PSOs receive their treatment in the community. Before this transfer takes place, many PSOs spend time inside prison together with other offenders. This raises the question to what extent PSOs are safe in prison and whether this period would benefit from an integrated therapeutic program. This qualitative research study focuses on the possibility of separate housing for PSOs by examining the current experiences of incarcerated PSOs and contextualizing those with the professional experience of national and international experts in the field.

Methods

Between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, 22 semi-structured interviews and six focus groups took place. Participants were comprised of 9 imprisoned PSOs, 7 international experts on prison-based PSO treatment, 6 prison officer supervisors, 2 prison management delegates, 21 healthcare workers (both inside and outside prison), 6 prison policy coordinators, and 10 psychosocial service staff members.

Results

Nearly all interviewed PSOs reported suffering at the hands of fellow inmates or prison staff because of the nature of their offenses, varying from exclusion and bullying to physical violence. These experiences were corroborated by the Flemish professionals. Consistent with scientific research, the international experts all reported working with incarcerated PSOs who reside in living units separate from other offenders and the therapeutic benefits to this approach. Despite this growing evidence, the Flemish professionals remained reluctant to implement separate living units for PSOs in prisons because of the perceived risk of increased cognitive distortions and further isolation of this already stigmatized group.

Conclusion

The Belgian prison system is not currently organized to create separate living units for PSOs, which has important ramifications for the safety and therapeutic opportunities of these vulnerable prisoners. International experts emphasize a clear benefit for introducing separate living units where a therapeutic environment can be created. Although this would have significant organizational and policy-oriented implications, it would be useful to explore whether these practices could be implemented in Belgian prisons as well.
Gender difference in the associations of childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with mood disorders
Authors: Yue Yan , Wang Yi , Yang Ruchang , Zhu Feng , Yang Xuna , Lu Xinchuan , Zhu Ping , Wu Zhengyan , Li Zhe , Zhao Xueli , Du Xiangdong
Published: May 2023

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common feature among adolescents with mood disorders. Although childhood maltreatment has shown to be associated with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), previous studies have yielded mixed results in terms of different subtypes of childhood maltreatment and only few studies have investigated the effects of gender. The present cross-sectional study investigated effects of different types of childhood maltreatment on NSSI, as well as the role of gender in these effects.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 142 Chinese adolescent inpatients with mood disorders (37 males and 105 females) were consecutively recruited within a psychiatric hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Participants were administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM).

Results

76.8% of the sample reported engaging NSSI in the previous 12  months. Female participants were more likely to engage in NSSI than males (p < 0.001). Participants in the NSSI group reported significantly more experiences of emotional abuse (p < 0.001) and emotional neglect (p = 0.005). With regards to gender differences, female participants who have experienced emotional abuse were more likely to engage in NSSI (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

As a whole, NSSI represents a frequent phenomenon among adolescent clinical populations and females were more likely to engage in NSSI than males. NSSI was significantly related to experiences of childhood maltreatment and specifically related to emotional abuse and emotional neglect over and above other types of childhood maltreatment. Females were more sensitive to emotional abuse than males. Our study highlights the importance of screening for subtypes of childhood maltreatment as well as considering the effects of gender.
Effect of fluvoxamine on plasma interleukin-6 in patients with major depressive disorder: a prospective follow-up study
Authors: Li Xueqin , Yan Danfeng , Liao Mei , Zhang Li , Li ZeXuan , Liu Bangshan , Chen Yanjun , Zhang Yan , Liu Jin , Li LingJiang
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with low-grade inflammation, and anti-inflammatory treatment can help improve depressive symptoms. A recent study found that fluvoxamine (FLV) can reduce Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production via sigma-1 receptor in inflammation models. However, the anti- IL-6 effect of FLV in treating patients with MDD and whether it can contribute to antidepressant effects remain unclear.

Methods

A total of 65 patients with MDD and 34 healthy controls were recruited at baseline, and 50 patients completed the FLV treatment for 2 months. We assessed depression and anhedonia and collected plasma IL-6 levels at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after baseline. This study evaluated the changes in clinical measures and IL-6 during treatment and analyzed their association. Further subgroup analyses were conducted in patients with MDD with high, medium, or low IL-6.

Results

Depression and anhedonia were significantly improved in patients with MDD, while the IL-6 did not significantly change after the FLV treatment. However, IL-6 significantly declined after the FLV treatment among patients with MDD with higher baseline IL-6. No significant associations were found between the changes in depressive symptoms and IL-6.

Conclusion

Our study provided preliminary evidence suggesting that the anti-IL-6 effect of FLV might not play a vital role in its antidepressant treatment, at least in patients with MDD with low inflammation. However, for patients with MDD with higher IL-6, FLV can help reduce IL-6 significantly in the antidepressant treatment, which may help guide the individual treatment of MDD with higher IL-6 levels.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04160377, identifier NCT04160377.
Characteristics of psychological time in patients with depression and potential intervention strategies
Authors: Ren Hanlin , Zhang Qing , Ren Yanzhen , Zhou Qiang , Fang Yuan , Huang Liang , Li Xiaobao
Published: May 2023

Psychological time reveals information about an individual’s psychological state and psychopathological traits and, thus, has become a new perspective through which the occurrence and development of depression can be examined. Psychological time includes time perception, time perspective, circadian rhythms, and passage of time. Patients with depression are characterized by inaccurate time interval estimation, habitual negative thoughts about the past and future, evening-type circadian rhythms, and slow passage of time. Habitual negative thoughts about the past and future and evening-type circadian rhythms influence the formation of depression, and poor time interval estimation and slow passage of time may result from depression. Further study is needed accurately exploring psychological time and influencing factors in patients with depression, and prospective cohort studies could further clarify this complex relationship. In addition, the study of psychological time has important implications for developing effective interventions to reduce depression.