bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The natural growth history of persistent pulmonary subsolid nodules: Radiology, genetics, and clinical management
Authors: Zhang Zhedong , Zhou Lixin , Yang Fan , Li Xiao
Published: December 2022

The high detection rate of pulmonary subsolid nodules (SSN) is an increasingly crucial clinical issue due to the increased number of screening tests and the growing popularity of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). The persistence of SSN strongly suggests the possibility of malignancy. Guidelines have been published over the past few years and guide the optimal management of SSNs, but many remain controversial and confusing for clinicians. Therefore, in-depth research on the natural growth history of persistent pulmonary SSN can help provide evidence-based medical recommendations for nodule management. In this review, we briefly describe the differential diagnosis, growth patterns and rates, genetic characteristics, and factors that influence the growth of persistent SSN. With the advancement of radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, individualized evaluation of SSN becomes possible. These technologies together with liquid biopsy, will promote the transformation of current diagnosis and follow-up strategies and provide significant progress in the precise management of subsolid nodules in the early stage of lung cancer.
Axillary lymph node dissection combined with radiotherapy for trichilemmal carcinoma with giant lymph node metastasis: A case report
Authors: Lv Wenjie , Zheng Dawen , Guan Wenbin , Wu Ping
Published: December 2022

Background

Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is a rare malignancy with a poor outcome if local recurrence and distant metastasis occur. There is no treatment strategy for such a disease.

Case presentation

We reported a complicated case of TC in the right lower abdomen with ipsilateral axillary and inguinal lymph node metastases. After surgery and radiotherapy, there has been no recurrence or metastasis in the follow-up to date.

Conclusion

We believe that even though considered a tumor of low malignant potential, TC still has the risk of recurrence and metastasis, and the lymph node status should be identified if a high suspicion or diagnosis is made. Regional lymph node dissection followed by local radiotherapy is recommended as the optimal treatment strategy for patients with lymph node metastases of TC. Screening for metastasis and close follow-up are indispensable for improving prognosis.
Local therapy treatment conditions for oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Suli , Sun Qian , Cai Feng , Li Hui , Zhou Yufu
Published: December 2022

Standard treatments for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but with limited survival rates. With the development of improved immunotherapy and targeted therapy, NSCLC prognoses have significantly improved. In recent years, the concept of oligometastatic disease has been developed, with randomized trial data showing survival benefits from local ablation therapy (LAT) in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC (OM-NSCLC). LAT includes surgery, stereotactic ablation body radiation therapy, or thermal ablation, and is becoming an important treatment component for OM-NSCLC. However, controversy remains on specific management strategies for the condition. In this review, we gathered current randomized trial data to analyze prognostic factors affecting patient survival, and explored ideal treatment conditions for patients with OM-NSCLC with respect to long-term survival.
Prospective comparison of 68Ga-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT for tumor staging in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Ding Haoyuan , Liang Juan , Qiu Lin , Xu Tingting , Cai Liang , Wan Qiang , Wang Li , Liu Ya , Chen Yue
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To explore the difference in the effectiveness of gallium-68 fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI-04) PET/CT and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT for the initial staging of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University hosted this single-center prospective investigation (Clinical Trials registration No.ChiCTR2100044131) between March 2020 and September 2021. Within a week, all subjects underwent MR scans, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT in order. The effectiveness of medical staging employing 68Ga-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT was compared.

Results

Twenty-eight patients with primary NPC were evaluated (mean age53 ± 11 years). 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT indicated an elevated recognition rate for diagnosing primary tumors (28/28 [100%] vs. 27/28 [96%]) and lymph node metastases (263/285 [92%] vs. 228/285 [80%]), but a lower detection rate for distant metastases (5/7 [71%] vs. 7/7 [100%]) compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT. A significant association between the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-FDG PET and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET was found in the primary cancers (r = 0.691, p < 0.001). In comparison to 18F-FDG PET/CT, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT upstaged the T stage in five patients while downstaging the N stage in seven patients. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT corrected the overall staging of five patients on18F-FDG PET/CT.

Conclusion

68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT is preferable to 18F-FDG PET/CT for NPC staging in terms of the detection efficiency for primary tumors and lymph node metastasis. This is especially true when evaluating the primary cancer and any spread to contiguous tissues. It is possible to improve the staging assessment of NPC by using 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in conjunction with 18F-FDG PET/CT.
Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and prognostic model revealed the carcinogenicity and clinical significance of FAM83D in ovarian cancer
Authors: Li Jie , Li Zhefeng , Gao Yan , Zhao Hongyu , Guo Jiahao , Liu Zhibin , Yin Chenghong , Zhao Xiaoting , Yue Wentao
Published: December 2022

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a fatal gynecological tumor with high mortality and poor prognosis. Yet, its molecular mechanism is still not fully explored, and early prognostic markers are still missing. In this study, we assessed carcinogenicity and clinical significance of family with sequence similarity 83 member D (FAM83D) in ovarian cancer by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and a prognostic model.

Methods

A 10x scRNA-seq analysis was performed on cells from normal ovary and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) tissue. The prognostic model was constructed by Lasso-Cox regression analysis. The biological function of FAM83D on cell growth, invasion, migration, and drug sensitivity was examined in vitro in OC cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay was performed for binding analysis between FAM83D and microRNA-138-5p (miR-138-5p).

Results

Our integrative analysis identified a subset of malignant epithelial cells (C1) with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and potential hyperproliferation gene signature. A FAM83D+ malignant epithelial subcluster (FAM83D+ MEC) was associated with cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, DNA repair, and EMT activation. FAM83D resulted as a viable prognostic marker in a prognostic model that efficiently predict the overall survival of OC patients. FAM83D downregulation in SKOV3 and A2780 cells increased cisplatin sensitivity, reducing OC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. MiR-138-5p was identified to regulate FAM83D’s carcinogenic effect in OC cells.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of miR-138 -5p/FAM83D/EMT signaling and may provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for OC.
Identifying tumor antigens and immune subtypes of gastrointestinal MALT lymphoma for immunotherapy development
Authors: Jiang Xinlu , Zhang Huanhuan , Ni Jinju , Zhang Xu , Ding Kaiyang
Published: December 2022

MALT lymphoma is an extranodal B-cell lymphoma of the marginal zone of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), caused by malignant transformation of B-cells in the marginal zone. In this work, we aim to explore the potential relationship between MALT lymphoma and DLBCL. Vaccines derived from messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) may provide satisfactory results. Despite being a promising treatment option, immunotherapy isn’t widely used in treating renal cell carcinoma, as only a few patients respond to the treatment. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis revealed gene expression profiles and clinical information. Antigen-presenting cells infiltrated the immune system using TIMER tool (http://timer.cistrome.org/). GDSC (Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer) data were used to estimate drug sensitivity. Immune-related genes were associated with a better prognosis in MALT lymphoma patients and higher levels of antigen-presenting cells. There is a significant relationship between these immune subtypes and immunological checkpoints, immunogenic cell death regulators, and prognostic variables for MALT lymphoma patients. In this study, we provide a theoretical foundation for the development of mRNA vaccines and suggest that KLHL14 could potentially be used as antigens to develop mRNA vaccines for MALT lymphoma.
Predictive and prognostic potential of pretreatment 68Ga-PSMA PET tumor heterogeneity index in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with 177Lu-PSMA
Authors: Assadi Majid , Manafi-Farid Reyhaneh , Jafari Esmail , Keshavarz Ahmad , Divband GhasemAli , Moradi Mohammad Mobin , Adinehpour Zohreh , Samimi Rezvan , Dadgar Habibollah , Jokar Narges , Mayer Benjamin , Prasad Vikas
Published: December 2022

Introduction

This study was conducted to evaluate the predictive values of volumetric parameters and radiomic features (RFs) extracted from pretreatment 68Ga-PSMA PET and baseline clinical parameters in response to 177Lu-PSMA therapy.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective multicenter study, mCRPC patients undergoing 177Lu-PSMA therapy were enrolled. According to the outcome of therapy, the patients were classified into two groups including positive biochemical response (BCR) (≥ 50% reduction in the serum PSA value) and negative BCR (< 50%). Sixty-five RFs, eight volumetric parameters, and also seventeen clinical parameters were evaluated for the prediction of BCR. In addition, the impact of such parameters on overall survival (OS) was evaluated.

Results

33 prostate cancer patients with a median age of 69 years (range: 49-89) were enrolled. BCR was observed in 22 cases (66%), and 16 cases (48.5%) died during the follow-up time. The results of Spearman correlation test indicated a significant relationship between BCR and treatment cycle, administered dose, HISTO energy, GLCM entropy, and GLZLM LZLGE (p<0.05). In addition, according to the Mann-Whitney U test, age, cycle, dose, GLCM entropy, and GLZLM LZLGE were significantly different between BCR and non BCR patients (p<0.05). According to the ROC curve analysis for feature selection for prediction of BCR, GLCM entropy, age, treatment cycle, and administered dose showed acceptable results (p<0.05). According to SVM for assessing the best model for prediction of response to therapy, GLCM entropy alone showed the highest predictive performance in treatment planning. For the entire cohort, the Kaplan-Meier test revealed a median OS of 21 months (95% CI: 12.12-29.88). The median OS was estimated at 26 months (95% CI: 17.43-34.56) for BCR patients and 13 months (95% CI: 9.18-16.81) for non BCR patients. Among all variables included in the Kaplan Meier, the only response to therapy was statistically significant (p=0.01).

Conclusion

This exploratory study showed that the heterogeneity parameter of pretreatment 68Ga-PSMA PET images might be a potential predictive value for response to 177Lu-PSMA therapy in mCRPC; however, further prospective studies need to be carried out to verify these findings.
New horizons in modulating the radio-sensitivity of head and neck cancer - 100 years after Warburg’ effect discovery
Authors: Mireștean Camil Ciprian , Iancu Roxana Irina , Iancu Dragoș Petru Teodor
Published: December 2022

Tumor radiation resistance along with chemotherapy resistance is one of the main causes of therapeutic failure of radiotherapy-treated head and neck cancers. 100 years after the discovery of the Warburg effect, a process specific to malignant cells to metabolize glucose especially anaerobically even under normoxia condition, its modulation has become a viable therapeutic target for improving the results of cancer therapies. Improving the radio-sensitivity of head and neck tumors by reversing the Warburg effect can increase the rate of local control and reduce the toxicity associated with irradiation. P53 status can be used as a biomarker in the choice of a single agent strategy (cell respiration inhibition with Metformin) or double inhibition, both of respiration and glycolysis. Targeting of enzymes involved in the Warburg effect, such as Hexokinase-II, are strategies with potential to be applied in clinical practice with radio-sensitizing effect for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Even if anti-Warburg therapies tested in clinical trials have been associated with either toxic deaths or a minor clinical benefit, the identification of both potential radio-sensitivity biomarkers and methods of reversing the Warburg effect will play an important role in the radiobiology of head and neck cancers.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of sintilimab plus chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: You Maojin , Huang Yufan , Cai Zhongjie , Wu Qingfeng , Zhu Wei , He Ying , Chen Ruijia
Published: December 2022

Background

Sintilimab plus chemotherapy (SIDCHM) is more effective than placebo plus chemotherapy (PLCHM) for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, considering the high cost of sintilimab, this study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of SIDCHM in comparison with PLCHM for advanced or metastatic ESCC from the Chinese healthcare system perspective.

Methods

Polymorphic Markov models were constructed to simulate the course and cost of SIDCHM. Treatment drug costs were calculated at national list prices and clinical data, other costs, and utility values were extracted from the reference literature. Primary outcomes included quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). The robustness of the model was verified by one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA).

Results

SIDCHM obtained 1.03 QALYs at $24,044.49, whereas the effectiveness and cost of PLCHM were 0.67 QALYs and $14,166.24, respectively. The ICER for SIDCHM versus PLCHM was $23,458.08/QALY. The utility of the PFS state was the parameter that had the greatest effect on the ICER. The PSA showed that SIDCHM had an 86% probability of being cost-effective at the willingness-to-pay threshold of 3* Chinese gross domestic product per capita ($37,653/QALY).

Conclusion

From the Chinese healthcare system perspective, SIDCHM is considered a cost-effective treatment option compared with PLCHM as first-line therapy for advanced or metastatic ESCC.
Dexamethasone may affect the occurrence of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in preterm neonates
Authors: Jiang Saizhi , Hu Qingqing , Zhang Jing
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Glucocorticoids are currently used for the co-therapeutic management of autoimmune hepatitis and some cholestatic diseases. Thus far, we do not know the efficacy of glucocorticoids in the treatment of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis. We aimed to analyze whether the administration of late postnatal dexamethasone for treating bronchopulmonary dysplasia influence the occurrence of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in preterm neonates.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted for 78 preterm neonates without major anomalies (gestational age was <30 weeks, and birthweight was ≤1000 g) hospitalized in a neonatal unit. Total and direct serum bilirubin levels were measured about every two weeks for all neonates. Data including the administration of dexamethasone, intravenous nutrition, and enteral feeding were collected by at least three audits.

Results

A total of 15 preterm neonates were diagnosed with parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis, and after stopping parenteral nutrition, the direct bilirubin value decreased to the normal level for no longer than 150 days. The prolonged duration of parenteral nutrition was a risk factor, and late postnatal dexamethasone treatment was a protective factor in reducing the incidence of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.

Conclusion

Dexamethasone treatment may reduce the occurrence of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in preterm neonates.
Pharmacological mechanisms of Fuzheng Huayu formula for Aristolochic acid I–induced kidney fibrosis through network pharmacology
Authors: Wang Fan , Wang Siyuan , Wang Jing , Huang Kai , Chen Gaofeng , Peng Yuan , Liu Chenghai , Tao Yanyan
Published: December 2022

Renal fibrosis, characterized by the destruction of renal tubules and interstitial capillaries and the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, is a common outcome of chronic renal diseases and has a wide spectrum of etiologies. Fibrosis can affect any organ and has similar pathological mechanisms. Fuzheng Huayu formula (FZHY), as the approved anti-liver fibrosis medicine in China, also can inhibit the kidney fibrosis induced by HgCl2 or unilateral ureteral obstruction. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of FZHY on renal fibrosis. This study aimed to identify the mechanisms of FZHY acts on renal fibrosis through network pharmacological analysis and in vivo experiments. Data from online databases were mined and screened to predict the target related genes of FZHY acts on renal fibrosis. The STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks for FZHY and CKD target proteins. Mouse models with CKD induced by Aristolochic Acid I (AAI) were used to validate the effects of FZHY on renal fibrosis and their underlying mechanisms by detecting kidney function, renal fibrosis, and related intersection genes. A total of 129 FZHY–CKD crossover proteins were filtered and constructed into a protein–protein interaction network complex and designated as the potential targets of FZHY. One of the highest-scoring genes, FOS, and its related signaling pathways were more activated in CKD. The results demonstrated that FZHY can exert an anti-renal fibrosis effect by improving the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and alleviating excessive collagen deposition in kidney tissue, FZHY also could reduce the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and inhibit the expression of MAPK/FOS signal molecules. Our study findings provide insights into predicting the effects of FZHY on CKD through network pharmacology. FZHY can protect the kidney from inflammatory injury caused by AAI and can antagonize inflammatory factor-stimulated MAPK/FOS activation in fibrotic kidneys. These effects constitute the mechanisms of FZHY for renal fibrosis.
Activation of Nrf2 signaling: A key molecular mechanism of protection against cardiovascular diseases by natural products
Authors: Wu Xiaoyu , Wei Jiajia , Yi Yang , Gong Qihai , Gao Jianmei
Published: December 2022

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a group of cardiac and vascular disorders including myocardial ischemia, congenital heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, and cardiomyopathies. Despite considerable progress in prophylaxis and treatment options, CVDs remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and impose an extremely high socioeconomic burden. Oxidative stress (OS) caused by disequilibrium in the generation of reactive oxygen species plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of CVDs. Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor of endogenous antioxidant defense systems against OS, is considered an ideal therapeutic target for management of CVDs. Increasingly, natural products have emerged as a potential source of Nrf2 activators with cardioprotective properties and may therefore provide a novel therapeutic tool for CVD. Here, we present an updated comprehensive summary of naturally occurring products with cardioprotective properties that exert their effects by suppression of OS through activation of Nrf2 signaling, with the aim of providing useful insights for the development of therapeutic strategies exploiting natural products.
A method to achieve spectral beam combining based on a novel symmetric grating
Authors: Fan Xinmin , Zhang Jianxin , Li Sensen , Li Shun , Wang Yan , Du Fei , Huang Xiaodong , Li Yingde , Zhang Lujun , Wang Chunyan
Published: December 2022

A symmetric grating is proposed to obtain higher output power in spectral beam combination by increasing the number of lasers and spectral utilization. The grating allows laser beams to be incident from both sides of the grating normal to achieve coaxial beam combining, so the number of beams and the combined output power are doubled compared with the traditional grating under the same spectral line-width. The grating is designed with the central wavelength of 4.65 μm, and the calculation results show that this grating is very advantageous for spectral beam combining, especially for the light waves in the range 4.55–4.71 μm, where their diffraction efficiencies are high (over 80%) and correspond to a wide and linear range of incidence angles. Meanwhile, based on the symmetric gratings we further propose a circular grating to achieve the same frequency spectral beam combining. This beam combining design will not increase the laser spectral line width while enhancing the laser power, reducing the requirements for the unit laser spectral line width, which is very meaningful in some application fields and will further enrich the research of spectral beam combining.
Comprehensive physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses reveal the synergistic mechanism of Bacillus pumilus G5 combined with silicon alleviate oxidative stress in drought-stressed Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.
Authors: Ma Xin , Xu Zhanchao , Lang Duoyong , Zhou Li , Zhang Wenjin , Zhang Xinhui
Published: December 2022

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is often cultivated in arid, semi-arid, and salt-affected regions that suffer from drought stress, which leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus causing oxidative stress. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and silicon (Si) have been widely reported to be beneficial in improving the tolerance of plants to drought stress by maintaining plant ROS homeostasis. Herein, combining physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses, we investigated the response of the antioxidant system of G. uralensis seedlings under drought stress to Bacillus pumilus (G5) and/or Si treatment. The results showed that drought stress caused the overproduction of ROS, accompanied by the low efficiency of antioxidants [i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), the ascorbate (AsA)–glutathione (GSH) pool, total carotenoids, and total flavonoids]. Inversely, supplementation with G5 and/or Si enhanced the antioxidant defense system in drought-stressed G. uralensis seedlings, and the complex regulation of the combination of G5 and Si differed from that of G5 or Si alone. The combination of G5 and Si enhanced the antioxidant enzyme system, accelerated the AsA–GSH cycle, and triggered the carotenoid and flavonoid metabolism, which acted in combination via different pathways to eliminate the excess ROS induced by drought stress, thereby alleviating oxidative stress. These findings provide new insights into the comparative and synergistic roles of PGPB and Si in the antioxidant system of plants exposed to drought and a guide for the application of PGPB combined with Si to modulate the tolerance of plants to stress.
Biocontrol and plant growth promotion by combined Bacillus spp. inoculation affecting pathogen and AMF communities in the wheat rhizosphere at low salt stress conditions
Authors: Ji Chao , Chen Zhizhang , Kong Xuehua , Xin Zhiwen , Sun Fujin , Xing Jiahao , Li Chunyu , Li Kun , Liang Zengwen , Cao Hui
Published: December 2022

Applying plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improves the efficiency of soil-borne disease control and is considered a sustainable practice. However, the effect of PGPR on the fungal community, especially pathogenic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of a compound microbial agent (consisting of Bacillus subtilis HG-15 and Bacillus velezensis JC-K3) on the incidence and yield of wheat under low salt stress, as well as compared the diversity and community composition of the rhizosphere fungal and AMF communities of wheat in the CK (not inoculated bacterial agent) and BIO (inoculated with a bacterial agent) groups. Chlorophyll relative content (SPAD), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), leaf water use efficiency (WUEL), grains per spike and wheat yield in the BIO group increased more than in the CK group. The number of diseased plants and disease incidence was observed to be reduced. The relative efficacy reached 79.80%. We classified 1007 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTU) based on Miseq sequencing data: 11 phyla, 173 families, 319 genera, and 521 species. Fifty-four OTUs were classified from the AMF effective sequences, including 1 phylum, 3 families, 3 genera, and 17 species. The inoculation of bacterial agents reduced the relative abundance of pathogen genera such as Gibberella, Fusarium, Cladosporium, and Alternaria in wheat rhizosphere. It increased the relative abundance of AMF species such as Glomus-group-B-Glomus-lamellosu-VTX00193, Glomus-viscosum-VTX00063, and Glomus-Glo2-VTX00280. In addition, pH, EC, exchangeable K, available N, total N, organic matter, and olsen P were the main driving forces for shaping wheat rhizosphere fungi. The pH value was positively correlated with the relative abundance of fungal communities in soil, especially Gibberella, Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Alternaria. In summary, inoculation with Bacillus subtilis HG-15 and Bacillus velezensis JC-K3 affected wheat yield, incidence, rhizosphere soil chemical properties, rhizosphere fungi, and AMF fungal diversity and community. The findings may provide a theoretical foundation and strain support for constructing efficient PGPR-community and clarifying its mechanism of pathogenic bacteria inhibition.
Pseudotargeted metabolomics revealed the adaptive mechanism of Draba oreades Schrenk at high altitude
Authors: Lei Ling , Yuan Xuefeng , Fu Keyi , Chen Yuan , Lu Yijun , Shou Na , Wu Dandan , Chen Xi , Shi Jian , Zhang Minjuan , Chen Zhe , Shi Zunji
Published: December 2022

Strong ultraviolet radiation and low temperature environment on Gangshika Mountain, located in the eastern part of the Qilian Mountains in Qinghai Province, can force plants to produce some special secondary metabolites for resisting severe environmental stress. However, the adaptive mechanism of Draba oreades Schrenk at high altitude are still unclear. In the current study, Draba oreades Schrenk from the Gangshika Mountain at altitudes of 3800 m, 4000 m and 4200 m were collected for comprehensive metabolic evaluation using pseudotargeted metabolomics method. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, we found that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids were up-regulated in the high-altitude group, which may enhance the environmental adaptability to strong ultraviolet intensity and low temperature stress in high altitude areas. By TopFc20 distribution diagram, the content of flavonoids gradually increased with the elevation of altitude, mainly including apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, hesperidin, kaempferol and their derivatives. Based on the random forest model, 10 important metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers. L-phenylalanine, L-histidine, naringenin-7-O-Rutinoside-4’-O-glucoside and apigenin related to the flavonoids biosynthesis and plant disease resistance were increased with the elevation of altitude. This study provided important insights for the adaptive mechanism of Draba oreades Schrenk at high altitude by pseudotargeted metabolomics.
Heat and drought induced transcriptomic changes in barley varieties with contrasting stress response phenotypes
Authors: Mahalingam Ramamurthy , Duhan Naveen , Kaundal Rakesh , Smertenko Andrei , Nazarov Taras , Bregitzer Phil
Published: December 2022

Drought and heat stress substantially impact plant growth and productivity. When subjected to drought or heat stress, plants exhibit reduction in growth resulting in yield losses. The occurrence of these two stresses together intensifies their negative effects. Unraveling the molecular changes in response to combined abiotic stress is essential to breed climate-resilient crops. In this study, transcriptome profiles were compared between stress-tolerant (Otis), and stress-sensitive (Golden Promise) barley genotypes subjected to drought, heat, and combined heat and drought stress for five days during heading stage. The major differences that emerged from the transcriptome analysis were the overall number of differentially expressed genes was relatively higher in Golden Promise (GP) compared to Otis. The differential expression of more than 900 transcription factors in GP and Otis may aid this transcriptional reprogramming in response to abiotic stress. Secondly, combined heat and water deficit stress results in a unique and massive transcriptomic response that cannot be predicted from individual stress responses. Enrichment analyses of gene ontology terms revealed unique and stress type-specific adjustments of gene expression. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified genes associated with RNA metabolism and Hsp70 chaperone components as hub genes that can be useful for engineering tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. Comparison of the transcriptomes of unstressed Otis and GP plants identified several genes associated with biosynthesis of antioxidants and osmolytes were higher in the former that maybe providing innate tolerance capabilities to effectively combat hostile conditions. Lines with different repertoire of innate tolerance mechanisms can be effectively leveraged in breeding programs for developing climate-resilient barley varieties with superior end-use traits.
Genome-wide analysis of the TCP gene family and their expression pattern in Cymbidium goeringii
Authors: Liu Ding-Kun , Zhang Cuili , Zhao Xuewei , Ke Shijie , Li Yuanyuan , Zhang Diyang , Zheng Qinyao , Li Ming-He , Lan Siren , Liu Zhong-Jian
Published: December 2022

TCP gene family are specific transcription factors for plant, and considered to play an important role in development and growth. However, few related studies investigated the TCP gene trait and how it plays a role in growth and development of Orchidaceae. In this study, we obtained 14 TCP genes (CgTCPs) from the Spring Orchid Cymbidium goeringii genome. The classification results showed that 14 CgTCPs were mainly divided into two clades as follows: four PCF genes (Class I), nine CIN genes and one CYC gene (Class II). The sequence analysis showed that the TCP proteins of C. goeringii contain four conserved regions (basic Helix-Loop-Helix) in the TCP domain. The exon−intron structure varied in the clade according to a comparative investigation of the gene structure, and some genes had no introns. There are fewer CgTCP homologous gene pairs compared with Dendrobium catenatum and Phalaenopsis equestris, suggesting that the TCP genes in C. goeringii suffered more loss events. The majority of the cis-elements revealed to be enriched in the function of light responsiveness, followed by MeJA and ABA responsiveness, demonstrating their functions in regulating by light and phytohormones. The collinearity study revealed that the TCPs in D. catenatum, P. equestris and C. goeringii almost 1:1. The transcriptomic data and real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT−qPCR) expression profiles showed that the flower-specific expression of the TCP class II genes (CgCIN2, CgCIN5 and CgCIN6) may be related to the regulation of florescence. Altogether, this study provides a comprehensive analysis uncovering the underlying function of TCP genes in Orchidaceae.
Optimising expression and extraction of recombinant proteins in plants
Authors: Coates Ryan J. , Young Mark T. , Scofield Simon
Published: December 2022

Recombinant proteins are of paramount importance for research, industrial and medical use. Numerous expression chassis are available for recombinant protein production, and while bacterial and mammalian cell cultures are the most widely used, recent developments have positioned transgenic plant chassis as viable and often preferential options. Plant chassis are easily maintained at low cost, are hugely scalable, and capable of producing large quantities of protein bearing complex post-translational modification. Several protein targets, including antibodies and vaccines against human disease, have been successfully produced in plants, highlighting the significant potential of plant chassis. The aim of this review is to act as a guide to producing recombinant protein in plants, discussing recent progress in the field and summarising the factors that must be considered when utilising plants as recombinant protein expression systems, with a focus on optimising recombinant protein expression at the genetic level, and the subsequent extraction and purification of target proteins, which can lead to substantial improvements in protein stability, yield and purity.
An uncharacterized gene Lb1G04794 from Limonium bicolor promotes salt tolerance and trichome development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Jiao Xiangmei , Zhao Boqing , Wang Baoshan , Yuan Fang
Published: December 2022

Halophytes can grow and reproduce in high-salinity environments, making them an important reservoir of genes conferring salt tolerance. With the expansion of saline soils worldwide, exploring the mechanisms of salt tolerance in halophytes and improving the salt tolerance of crops have become increasingly urgent. Limonium bicolor is a halophyte with salt glands that secrete excess Na+ through leaves. Here, we identified an uncharacterized gene Lb1G04794, which showed increased expression after NaCl treatment and was high during salt gland development in L. bicolor. Overexpression of Lb1G04794 in L. bicolor showed promoted salt gland development, indicating that this gene may promote salt gland differentiation. Transgenic Arabidopsis strains overexpressing Lb1G04794 showed increased trichomes and decreased root hairs under normal conditions. Compared with wild type (WT), root growth in the transgenic lines was less inhibited by NaCl treatment. Transgenic seedlings accumulated less fresh/dry weight reductions under long-term salt treatment, accompanied by lower Na+ and malondialdehyde accumulation than WT, indicating that these transgenic lines behave better growth and undergo less cellular damage under NaCl stress. These results were consistent with the low expression levels of salt-tolerance marker genes in the transgenic lines upon salt stress. We conclude that the unknown gene Lb1G04794 positively regulated salt gland development, and promoted salt tolerance of Arabidopsis, offering a new direction for improving salt tolerance of non-halophytes and crops.
An investigation of the influence of skin colour on the perception of femininity, masculinity and likeable
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Zhang Jingzhe , Chen Jiapei , Zhang Liyi
Published: December 2022

Facial skin colour, a key factor related to impressions, is widely used by CG character designers to build characters with different storylines. The previous research provided essential suggestions for creating an attractive facial image. However, the suggestions of the prior research are insufficient for building the characters to resonate with the current public, especially young people. The present study investigates the influence of skin colour (whiteness and hue angle) on the femininity, masculinity and likableness perception of Chinese female and male images. A psychophysical experiment was carried out to investigate these relationships. The categorical judgement results reveal that whiteness significantly impacted the feminine-masculine perception of the Chinese male image and the likableness perception of the Chinese female and male image. This connection between the whiteness and likability of the male facial image could be related to the beauty trends in the last decade. The hue angle only significantly influenced the likability perception of the Chinese female image. This result is agreed with past research in the same area.
The relation between autonomy support and music enjoyment in online learning for music undergraduates in the post-COVID-19 era
Authors: Zhang Yan-Han , Zhao Yue-Han , Luo Yuan-Yu , Yang Xiantong , Tan Dawei
Published: December 2022

Music enjoyment is considered to predict music-related academic performance and career choice. Although relevant research in non-music fields has demonstrated the association between teachers’ autonomy support and students’ academic enjoyment, it remains unknown whether this association is valid in the music discipline. In addition, in the post-COVID-19 era, online education has become a common way of teaching and learning for music undergraduates. In the form of online learning, the mechanisms mediating teachers’ music autonomy support and students’ music academic enjoyment are also unknown. This study draws on Pekrun’s theory of achievement emotions and control values to explore the mediating role of attributions and values in the association between autonomous support and academic achievement. In this study, 270 undergraduates majoring in music eventually completed the online surveys. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that autonomy support positively predicted music enjoyment and that attributions (i.e., internal attribution and external attribution) and values (i.e., intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value) mediated the association between autonomy support and music enjoyment. The findings also provide insights into possible avenue for promoting music enjoyment emotion during online teaching in the post-COVID-19 era. Implications and limitations are discussed in the study.
It takes more than agency: Linking support from teaching staff, career engagement, and movement capital among university students
Authors: Petruzziello Gerardo , Antonio Audrey Ansay , Chiesa Rita , Mariani Marco Giovanni
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Career self-management behaviours are key to overcoming the challenges of entry into the labour market. Combining the Conservation of Resources and Career Self-management theories, this study delves into the concept of Career Engagement among Italian University students by examining its relationship with Support from teaching Staff and Movement Capital. We hypothesised a mediation model in which Support from Teaching Staff predicts Career Engagement which, in turn, fosters Movement Capital. As the pandemic led to the adoption of online learning solutions, we also explored whether and how the interaction between teachers and students during online classes moderates the said mediation relationship.

Methods and results

We collected data from 276 Italian University students through an online questionnaire. Results supported the mediation hypothesis, corroborating the mediating role of Career Engagement. We also observed that this relationship is stronger at medium and higher levels of online interaction between teachers and students.

Discussion

Findings contribute to existing evidence about the role of Career Engagement in facilitating career resources’ acquisition and extend the understanding of its contextual antecedents in Higher Education contexts. Results also align with the importance attributed to interaction in online learning environments. This work suggests ways to encourage career behaviours in Higher Education and equip prospective labour market entrants with career resources.
Cognitive networks detect structural patterns and emotional complexity in suicide notes
Authors: Stella Massimo , Swanson Trevor J. , Li Ying , Hills Thomas T. , Teixeira Andreia S.
Published: December 2022

Communicating one's mindset means transmitting complex relationships between concepts and emotions. Using network science and word co-occurrences, we reconstruct conceptual associations as communicated in 139 genuine suicide notes, i.e., notes left by individuals who took their lives. We find that, despite their negative context, suicide notes are surprisingly positively valenced. Through emotional profiling, their ending statements are found to be markedly more emotional than their main body: The ending sentences in suicide notes elicit deeper fear/sadness but also stronger joy/trust and anticipation than the main body. Furthermore, by using data from the Emotional Recall Task, we model emotional transitions within these notes as co-occurrence networks and compare their structure against emotional recalls from mentally healthy individuals. Supported by psychological literature, we introduce emotional complexity as an affective analog of structural balance theory, measuring how elementary cycles (closed triads) of emotion co-occurrences mix positive, negative and neutral states in narratives and recollections. At the group level, authors of suicide narratives display a higher complexity than healthy individuals, i.e., lower levels of coherently valenced emotional states in triads. An entropy measure identified a similar tendency for suicide notes to shift more frequently between contrasting emotional states. Both the groups of authors of suicide notes and healthy individuals exhibit less complexity than random expectation. Our results demonstrate that suicide notes possess highly structured and contrastive narratives of emotions, more complex than expected by null models and healthy populations.
Influencing mechanism of coal miners’ safety compliance: A chain mediating model
Authors: Li Yongzhan
Published: December 2022

The influence that job insecurity has on employees’ safety psychology and behavior has been identified in many empirical studies, but few of these examine the influencing mechanism of job insecurity on coal miners’ safety behaviors. In the de-overcapacity circumstances of coal production in China, using the strength model of self-control and conservation of resources theories, a chain mediating model was constructed to determine the relationships between job insecurity, emotional exhaustion, mind wandering, and safety compliance among coal miners. Data were collected from 447 coal miners working in three coal mines of Henan Pingdingshan Coal Industry Group. It was found that job insecurity negatively affected safety compliance, and emotional exhaustion and mind wandering played a chain mediating effect in the relationship between job insecurity and miners’ safety compliance, along three specific paths. This study helps advance the understanding of the internal mechanisms of coal miners’ job insecurity and how this affects individual safety performance. It also provides empirical evidence that managers can use effectively intervene in coal miners’ safety performance.
A 3-year retrospective study of 866 children and adolescent outpatients followed in the Nice Pediatric Psychotrauma Center created after the 2016 mass terror attack
Authors: Gindt Morgane , Fernandez Arnaud , Zeghari Radia , Ménard Marie-Line , Nachon Ophelie , Richez Aurélien , Auby Philippe , Battista Michele , Askenazy Florence
Published: December 2022

Background

The mass terrorist attack in Nice, France, in July 2016 caused deaths and injuries in a local population, including children and adolescents. The Nice Pediatric Psychotrauma Center (NPPC) was opened to provide mental health care to the pediatric population (0–18 years) who experienced traumatic events.

Objectives

This study describes the specificity of the care pathway for young trauma victims, with an explanation of how the NPPC works during the first three years.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we conducted quantitative and qualitative data collection about new and follow-up consultations, primary and comorbid diagnoses, and the kind of trauma (terrorist attack versus other kinds of trauma). Ethics approval was obtained from the local Ethics committee.

Results

866 children and adolescents were followed in the NPPC. We found a high rate of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; 71%) in this population with a high rate of comorbidities (67%), mainly sleep disorders (34.7%) and mood and anxiety disorders (16.2%). A high number of children and adolescents impacted by the terrorist attack required follow-up consultations after exposure to the mass terrorist attack, the first care-seeking requests continued to occur three years later, although at a slower rate than in the first and second years. New consultations for other kinds of trauma were observed over time.

Discussion

This study supports previous findings on the significant impact of mass trauma in the pediatric population showing even a higher level of PTSD and a high rate of comorbidities. This may be explained by the brutality of the traumatic event, particularly for this age group. The findings of this study have implications for early interventions and long-term care for children and adolescents to prevent the development of chronic PTSD into adulthood.
Does self-sampling for human papilloma virus testing have the potential to increase cervical cancer screening? An updated meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized clinical trials
Authors: Di Gennaro Gianfranco , Licata Francesca , Trovato Alessandro , Bianco Aida
Published: December 2022

Objectives

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effectiveness of HPV self-sampling proposal on cervical cancer screening (CCS) uptake when compared with an invitation to have a clinician to collect the sample. Secondary outcomes were acceptability and preference of self-sampling compared to clinician-collected samples.

Methods

The present systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies examining the CCS uptake comparing self-sampling over invitation to be sampled by an healthcare professional and examining the proportion of women accepting or preferring self-sampling vs. clinician-collected sampling were included. The CCS uptake was also explored according to strategy of self-samplers' distribution, collection device type and screening status. Peters' test and Funnel Plot inspection were used to assess the publication bias. Quality of the studies was assessed through Cochrane Risk of Bias and NIH Quality Assessment tools.

Results

One hundred fifty-four studies were globally identified, and 482,271 women were involved. Self-sampling procedures nearly doubled the probability (RR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.7–2.0) of CCS uptake when compared with clinician-collected samples. The opt-out (RR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9–2.4) and the door-to-door (RR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.6–2.0) did not statistically significant differ (p = 1.177) in improving the CCS uptake. A higher relative uptake was shown for brushes (RR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.5–1.7) and swabs (RR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.9–3.1) over clinician-collected samples. A high between-studies variability in characteristics of sampled women was shown. In all meta-analyses the level of heterogeneity was consistently high (I2 > 95%). Publication bias was unlikely.

Conclusions

Self-sampling has the potential to increase participation of under-screened women in the CCS, in addition to the standard invitation to have a clinician to collect the sample. For small communities door-to-door distribution could be preferred to distribute the self-sampler while; for large communities opt-out strategies should be preferred over opt-in. Since no significant difference in acceptability and preference of device type was demonstrated among women, and swabs and brushes exhibited a potential stronger effect in improving CCS, these devices could be adopted.