bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An overview of nutritional profiling in foods: Bioanalytical techniques and useful protocols
Authors: Mondal Deb Duhita , Chakraborty Ushashi , Bera Manotosh , Ghosh Subhrojyoti , Kar Debasish
Published: March 2023

Maintaining a nutritious diet is essential for humans if they want to live a healthier life. Several food businesses and food safety organizations play a significant role and offer useful ways for improving nutritional quality that assists consumers in making informed selections. Making poor food choices and consuming unhealthy meals are the main causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Nutritional profiling (NP) models are developed to evaluate the nutritional value, calorie content, and the amount of micronutrients and macronutrients contained in a given food accompanied by additional details on the nutritional anomaly provided by published standard nutrients and nutritional databases. To construct an ideal nutritional model that can facilitate food consumption, bioanalytical methods such as chromatography, microscopic techniques, molecular assays, and metabolomics can be applied. With the use of these technologies, one can learn more about the health advantages of nutrition and how to prevent disease. A wider element of NP is also provided by the developing technologies in the area of nutrition research, such as nanotechnology, proteomics, and microarray technology. In this review, we are focusing on the different bioanalytical techniques and the various protocols of NP and their application and refinement of the models. We have evaluated various NP techniques currently used in the food industry for the detection of different components present in food items.
A review of research on the intersection between breast cancer and cardiovascular research in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)
Authors: Raychaudhuri Sreejata , Dieli-Conwright Christina M. , Cheng Richard K. , Barac Ana , Reding Kerryn W. , Vasbinder Alexi , Cook Katherine L. , Nair Vidhya , Desai Pinkal , Simon Michael S.
Published: March 2023

Both obesity and metabolic syndrome are linked to increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancers of the breast (post-menopausal), and other obesity-related cancers. Over the past 50 years, the worldwide prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome has increased, with a concomitant higher incidence of associated co-morbidities and mortality. The precise mechanism linking metabolic syndrome to increased cancer incidence is incompletely understood, however, individual components of metabolic syndrome have been linked to increased breast cancer incidence and worse survival. There is a bidirectional relationship between the risk of CVD and cancer due to a high burden of shared risk factors and higher rates of CVD among cancer survivors, which may be impacted by the pro-inflammatory microenvironment associated with metabolic syndrome and cancer-directed therapies. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) is an excellent resource to study a dual relationship between cancer and CVD (cardio-oncology) with extensive information on risk factors and long-term outcomes. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of research on cardio-oncology conducted utilizing WHI data with focus on studies evaluating both breast cancer and CVD including shared risk factors and outcomes after cancer. The review also includes results on other obesity related cancers which were included in the analyses of breast cancer, articles looking at cancer after heart disease (reverse cardio-oncology) and the role of Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) as a shared risk factor between CVD and cancer. A summary of pertinent WHI literature helps to delineate the direction of future research evaluating the relationship between CVD and other cancer sites, and provides information on the opportunity for other novel analyses within the WHI.
Interactive process mining of cancer treatment sequences with melanoma real-world data
Authors: Wicky Alexandre , Gatta Roberto , Latifyan Sofiya , Micheli Rita De , Gerard Camille , Pradervand Sylvain , Michielin Olivier , Cuendet Michel A.
Published: March 2023

The growing availability of clinical real-world data (RWD) represents a formidable opportunity to complement evidence from randomized clinical trials and observe how oncological treatments perform in real-life conditions. In particular, RWD can provide insights on questions for which no clinical trials exist, such as comparing outcomes from different sequences of treatments. To this end, process mining is a particularly suitable methodology for analyzing different treatment paths and their associated outcomes. Here, we describe an implementation of process mining algorithms directly within our hospital information system with an interactive application that allows oncologists to compare sequences of treatments in terms of overall survival, progression-free survival and best overall response. As an application example, we first performed a RWD descriptive analysis of 303 patients with advanced melanoma and reproduced findings observed in two notorious clinical trials: CheckMate-067 and DREAMseq. Then, we explored the outcomes of an immune-checkpoint inhibitor rechallenge after a first progression on immunotherapy versus switching to a BRAF targeted treatment. By using interactive process-oriented RWD analysis, we observed that patients still derive long-term survival benefits from immune-checkpoint inhibitors rechallenge, which could have direct implications on treatment guidelines for patients able to carry on immune-checkpoint therapy, if confirmed by external RWD and randomized clinical trials. Overall, our results highlight how an interactive implementation of process mining can lead to clinically relevant insights from RWD with a framework that can be ported to other centers or networks of centers.
Histone methyltransferase SETD2: An epigenetic driver in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Yu Mengxue , Qian Kaiyu , Wang Gang , Xiao Yu , Zhu Yuan , Ju Lingao
Published: March 2023

SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2) is a lysine methyltransferase that catalyzes histone H3 lysine36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) and has been revealed to play important roles in the regulation of transcriptional elongation, RNA splicing, and DNA damage repair. SETD2 mutations have been documented in several cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). SETD2 deficiency is associated with cancer occurrence and progression by regulating autophagy flux, general metabolic activity, and replication fork speed. Therefore, SETD2 is considered a potential epigenetic therapeutic target and is the subject of ongoing research on cancer-related diagnosis and treatment. This review presents an overview of the molecular functions of SETD2 in H3K36me3 regulation and its relationship with ccRCC, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent antitumor therapy based on SETD2 or H3K36me3 targets.
Importance of long non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer
Authors: Taheri Mohammad , Badrlou Elham , Hussen Bashdar Mahmud , Kashi Amir Hossein , Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh , Baniahmad Aria
Published: March 2023

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory transcripts with essential roles in the pathogenesis of almost all types of cancers, including prostate cancer. They can act as either oncogenic lncRNAs or tumor suppressor ones in prostate cancer. Small nucleolar RNA host genes are among the mostly assessed oncogenic lncRNAs in this cancer. PCA3 is an example of oncogenic lncRNAs that has been approved as a diagnostic marker in prostate cancer. A number of well-known oncogenic lncRNAs in other cancers such as DANCR, MALAT1, CCAT1, PVT1, TUG1 and NEAT1 have also been shown to act as oncogenes in prostate cancer. On the other hand, LINC00893, LINC01679, MIR22HG, RP1-59D14.5, MAGI2-AS3, NXTAR, FGF14-AS2 and ADAMTS9-AS1 are among lncRNAs that act as tumor suppressors in prostate cancer. LncRNAs can contribute to the pathogenesis of prostate cancer via modulation of androgen receptor (AR) signaling, ubiquitin–proteasome degradation process of AR or other important signaling pathways. The current review summarizes the role of lncRNAs in the evolution of prostate cancer with an especial focus on their importance in design of novel biomarker panels and therapeutic targets.
Effects of walking football on adherence, safety, quality of life and physical fitness in patients with prostate cancer: Findings from the PROSTATA_MOVE randomized controlled trial
Authors: Capela Andreia , Antunes Pedro , Coelho César André , Garcia Catarina Laranjeiro , Custódio Sandra , Amorim Rui , Costa Telma , Vilela Eduardo , Teixeira Madalena , Amarelo Anabela , Silva Joana , Joaquim Ana , Viamonte Sofia , Brito João , Alves Alberto J.
Published: March 2023

Aims

To analyze the feasibility and impact of a walking football (WF) program on quality of life (QoL), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength, and balance program in men with prostate cancer under androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods

Fifty patients with prostate cancer (stages IIb-IVb) under ADT were randomized to a 16-week WF program plus usual care (n=25) or usual care control group (n=25). The WF program consisted of three 90-minute sessions per week. Recruitment, withdrawal, adherence, enjoyment rate, and safety of the intervention were recorded throughout the study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed before and after the interventions, while handgrip strength, lower limb muscle strength, static balance, and QoL were assessed before, during (week 8), and after (week 16) the interventions. Adverse events during sessions were also recorded.

Results

The WF group showed high levels of adherence (81.6 ± 15.9%) and enjoyment rate (4.5 ± 0.5 out of 5 points). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the WF group showed an improvement in chair sit-to-stand (p=0.035) compared to the control group. Within-group comparisons showed that handgrip strength in the dominant upper limb (p=0.024), maximal isometric muscle strength in the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.006), and balance in the dominant limb (p=0.009) improved over time in the WF group but not in the usual care group. The results obtained from the per-protocol analysis indicate that CRF improved significantly in the WF group as compared to the control group (p=0.035). Within-group analysis revealed that CRF (p=0.036), muscle strength in dominant (p=0.006) and non-dominant (p=0.001) lower limbs, and balance in the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.023) improved after 16 weeks of WF, but not in the control group. One major traumatic injury (muscle tear) was reported with a complete recovery before the end of the intervention.

Conclusion

This study suggests that WF is feasible, safe, and enjoyable in patients with prostate cancer under hormonal therapy. Furthermore, patients who adhere to the WF program can expect cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and balance improvements.

Clinical trials registration

clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04062162.
Integration of multi-omics data reveals a novel hybrid breast cancer subtype and its biomarkers
Authors: Wang Zhen-zhen , Li Xu-hua , Wen Xiao-ling , Wang Na , Guo Yu , Zhu Xu , Fu Shu-heng , Xiong Fei-fan , Bai Jing , Gao Xiao-ling , Wang Hong-jiu
Published: March 2023

Tumor heterogeneity in breast cancer hinders proper diagnosis and treatment, and the identification of molecular subtypes may help enhance the understanding of its heterogeneity. Therefore, we proposed a novel integrated multi-omics approach for breast cancer typing, which led to the identification of a hybrid subtype (Mix_Sub subtype) with a poor survival prognosis. This subtype is characterized by lower levels of the inflammatory response, lower tumor malignancy, lower immune cell infiltration, and higher T-cell dysfunction. Moreover, we found that cell-cell communication mediated by NCAM1-FGFR1 ligand-receptor interaction and cellular functional states, such as cell cycle, DNA damage, and DNA repair, were significantly altered and upregulated in patients with this subtype, and that such patients displayed greater sensitivity to targeted therapies. Subsequently, using differential genes among subtypes as biomarkers, we constructed prognostic risk models and subtype classifiers for the Mix_Sub subtype and validated their generalization ability in external datasets obtained from the GEO database, indicating their potential therapeutic and prognostic significance. These biomarkers also showed significant spatially variable expression in malignant tumor cells. Collectively, the identification of the Mix_Sub breast cancer subtype and its biomarkers, based on the driving relationship between omics, has deepened our understanding of breast cancer heterogeneity and facilitated the development of breast cancer precision therapy.
Cognitive impairment and biomarkers of gut microbial translocation in testicular germ cell tumor survivors
Authors: Chovanec Michal , Kalavska Katarina , Obertova Jana , Palacka Patrik , Rejlekova Katarina , Sycova-Mila Zuzana , Orszaghova Zuzana , Lesko Peter , De Angelis Valentina , Vasilkova Lucia , Svetlovska Daniela , Mladosievicova Beata , Mardiak Jozef , Pastorek Michal , Vlkova Barbora , Celec Peter , Mego Michal
Published: March 2023

Background

Survivors of testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from late cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that disruption of intestinal barrier during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be a contributing factor of cognitive dysfunction within the gut-blood-brain axis.

Methods

GCT survivors (N = 142) from National Cancer Institute of Slovakia completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Function questionnaires during their annual follow-up visit at 9-year median (range 4-32). Biomarkers of gut microbial translocation and dysbiosis high mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1), lipopolysaccharide, d-lactate and sCD14 were measured from peripheral blood obtained during the same visit. Each questionnaire score was correlated with biomarkers. Survivors were treated with orchiectomy only (N = 17), cisplatin-based chemotherapy (N = 108), radiotherapy to the retroperitoneum (N = 11) or both (N = 6).

Results

GCT survivors with higher sCD14 (above median) had worse cognitive function perceived by others (CogOth domain) (mean ± SEM; 14.6 ± 0.25 vs 15.4 ± 0.25, p = 0.019), lower perceived cognitive abilities (CogPCA domain) (20.0 ± 0.74 vs 23.4 ± 0.73, p = 0.025) and lower overall cognitive function score (109.2 ± 0.74 vs 116.7 ± 1.90, p = 0.021). There were no significant cognitive declines associated with HMGB-1, d-lactate and lipopolysaccharide. Survivors treated with ≥ 400mg/m2 vs < 400mg/m2 of cisplatin-based chemotherapy had a higher lipopolysaccharide (567.8 μg/L ± 42.7 vs 462.9 μg/L ± 51.9, (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

sCD14 is a marker of monocytic activation by lipopolysaccharide and may also serve as a promising biomarker of cognitive impairment in long-term cancer survivors. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced intestinal injury may be the underlying mechanism, further research using animal models and larger patient cohorts are needed to explore the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in GCT survivors within the gut-brain axis.
Safety and adherence of pressure garment therapy in children with upper limb unilateral cerebral palsy. Results from a randomized clinical trial ancillary analysis
Authors: Béghin Laurent , Mohammad Yasser , Fritot Séverine , Letellier Guy , Masson Sixtine , Zagamé Yann , Donskoff Catherine , Toussaint-Thorin Mathide , Gottrand Laurence
Published: March 2023

Background

This study was conducted to assess the safety and adherence of the use of a PGT (Pressure Garment Therapy) Lycra® sleeve to treat upper limb unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) in children.

Methods

This study was conducted as a prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized monocenter study. Included in the study were 58 UCP children, 49 of whom were analyzed. 25 children (mean age 6.6 ± 1.6 years; 12 girls) were allocated to the active group vs. 24 (mean age 6.7 ± 1.6 years; 10 girls) in the placebo group. The intervention consisted of an active PGT Lycra® arm sleeve manufactured to generate a homogeneous pressure ranging from 15 to 25 mmHg. The placebo PGT Lycra® sleeve was manufactured to generate a homogeneous pressure under 7 mmHg. The time of wearing period was set at 3 h/day at minimum and 6 h/day at maximum, over the course of 6 months. The main outcome measures were safety outcomes including the number and intensity of Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs). AESIs were defined as adverse events imputable to compressive therapy and Lycra® wearing. Level of adherence was expressed in percentage of number of days when the sleeve was worn for at least 3 h per day compared to length of duration in days (start and end date of wearing period).

Results

Frequency of AESIs were very low and no different between groups (4.12 ± 11.32% vs. 1.83 ± 3.38%; p = 0.504). There were no differences in adherence (91.86 ± 13.86% vs. 94.30 ± 9.95%; p = 0.425).

Conclusion

The use of PGT Lycra® arm sleeve in children with UCP is safe and well-tolerated with a very good adherence. The low rate of AESIs is promising for further randomized clinical trials on efficacy.
Placental morphological features of small for gestational age preterm neonates born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zeng Hui-Hui
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates are often born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Here, we aimed to explore the morphometric characteristics of the placenta during the perinatal period associated with SGA risk in mothers with PIH and identify the risk factors related to SGA.

Methods

The medical records of 134 neonates born between 28- and 32-weeks’ gestation to PIH mothers were retrospectively analyzed. Placental morphology and umbilical cord (UC) length were compared between the SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) groups.

Results

The placenta of the SGA group had a shorter major (15.00 vs. 18.00 cm; z = −6.04, p < 0.01) and minor placenta axes (13.00 vs. 15.00 cm; z = −4.59, p < 0.01), lower weight (300.00 vs. 420.00 g; z = −7.21, p < 0.01), smaller volume (282.00 vs. 396.00 cm3; z = −5.00, p < 0.01), and smaller area (141.00 vs. 212.00 cm2; z = −5.96, p < 0.01) than the AGA group. The UC was significantly shorter (39.00 vs. 44.00 cm; z = −3.68, p < 0.01). Short placental major axis [p = 0.03; odds ratio (OR): 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.84 − 2.63] and low placental weight (p < 0.01; OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 2.66 − 2.70) were independent risk factors for SGA in premature newborns of PIH mothers.

Discussion

A major axis shorter than 15.5 cm or placental weight lower than 347.50 g at birth was related to a greater risk of SGA infants born to PIH mothers. As a predictor in prenatal ultrasound, the major axis is more helpful for precise prenatal pre-evaluation of vulnerable SGA preterm neonates with PIH mothers.
Association between IL-6 polymorphisms and Atopic Dermatitis in Chinese Han children
Authors: Huang Shuangshuang , Wang Hao , Zheng Huiwen , Li Wei , Shi Jianrong , Shen Chen , Tao Ran
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects almost 20% of children and 2 -10% of adults worldwide. Previous studies revealed that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an essential role in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aims to investigate the associations between IL-6 polymorphisms and AD.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 132 AD patients and 100 controls, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-6 (rs2069840 (C/G), rs2066992 (G/T), rs2069837 (A/G) and rs1800796 (G/C)) were analyzed using Multiplex PCR-Based Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Results

Results showed that the A/G genotype of IL-6/rs2069837 was significantly associated with a 1.933-fold increased risk of AD compared to those patients with A/A genotype (OR 1.933; 95%CI 1.086-3.438; p=0.024). The combined A/G-G/G genotype raised AD risk by 1.856 times compared to patients with the A/A genotype in dominant model (OR: 1.856; 95% CI: 1.056-3.261; p=0.030). No association was observed for 3 other SNPs and 4 haplotypes.

Discussion

These findings suggested that the A/G genotype of IL-6/rs2069837 was more susceptible to AD than A/A genotype in Chinese Han children, indicating the risk role of IL-6/rs2069837 in the occurrence of AD.
Comparison of physician- and self-assessed pubertal onset in Japanese children
Authors: Saito-Abe Mayako , Nishizato Minaho , Yamamoto-Hanada Kiwako , Yang Liming , Fukami Maki , Ito Yoshiya , Ihara Kenji , Iwabuchi Atsushi , Okamoto Shingo , Naiki Yasuhiro , Ohya Yukihiro , Horikawa Reiko
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Physical examinations to assess pubertal development are challenging in large epidemiological surveys. This study aimed to assess the reliability of judgment of pubertal onset in Japanese children by the original pubertal self-assessment sheet.

Methods

A total of 144 children aged 10 or 12 years were recruited between March 2019 and September 2020 from the pediatric endocrine outpatient clinics of participating institutions. Agreement between the physician- and participantassessed pubertal onsets was determined using unweighted kappa (UK) and Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC1).

Results

The physician's assessment of pubertal onset was in slight agreement with that of the self-assessment sheet in 10-year-old boys (UK: 0.23 and AC1: 0.14), whereas the agreement between the physician's assessment and self-assessment sheet results was good and the physician's assessment was fair (UK: 0.64 and AC1: 0.94) in 12-year-old boys. The physician's assessment of pubertal onset were in good and moderate agreement with the self-assessment sheet in 10-year-old girls (UK/AC1: 0.74/0.78, respectively). In 12-year-old girls, although it showed poor agreement with UK (0.46), there was a very good agreement with AC1 (0.88).

Conclusions

Although self-assessment of breast development was in good agreement with that of the physician's assessment for determining pubertal onset in girls, large-scale epidemiological studies are difficult to conduct for adolescent boys, especially for those in the early pubertal stage.
Post-approval studies with the CFTR modulators Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor—Ivacaftor
Authors: Tümmler Burkhard
Published: March 2023

Triple combination therapy with the CFTR modulators elexacaftor (ELX), tezacaftor (TEZ) and ivacaftor (IVA) has been qualified as a game changer in cystic fibrosis (CF). We provide an overview of the body of literature on ELX/TEZ/IVA published between November 2019 and February 2023 after approval by the regulators. Recombinant ELX/TEZ/IVA-bound Phe508del CFTR exhibits a wild type conformationin vitro, but in patient’s tissue a CFTR glyoisoform is synthesized that is distinct from the wild type and Phe508del isoforms. ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy improved the quality of life of people with CF in the real-life setting irrespective of their anthropometry and lung function at baseline. ELX/TEZ/IVA improved sinonasal and abdominal disease, lung function and morphology, airway microbiology and the basic defect of impaired epithelial chloride and bicarbonate transport. Pregnancy rates were increasing in women with CF. Side effects of mental status changes deserve particular attention in the future.
Model and application of inversion data cleaning for flow monitoring stations in the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project
Authors: Ren Honglei , Tao Yuezan , Wei Ting , Kang Bo , Zhang Naifeng , Li Yucheng , Lin Fei
Published: March 2023

For a long-distance open-channel water transfer project, the correctness of the hydrological state study and hydrodynamic numerical simulation is impacted directly by the spatiotemporal and consistency of the flow monitoring data along the project. Reported here is an inverted data cleaning model for flow monitoring stations based on the principle of water dynamic balance and the longest sequence method of interval flow, targeting the abnormal phenomenon of unequal flow at monitoring stations in the dispatching operation and using the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China as the research object. As an example, a hydrodynamic model is built for verification using flow and water level data after model cleaning as the upper and lower boundaries, respectively, for the middle-route project from the Baihe River to Huangjin River. The findings indicate that the cleaning model enhances the accuracy of flow monitoring data and reduces both the mean absolute error of the water level in front of the gate and the root-mean-square error by 0.0757 and 0.0895 m, respectively. In terms of data spatial consistency and logic, the cleaned flow data are superior to the measured flow data.
Enhanced terahertz third-harmonic generation by bound states in the continuum in graphene grating-like metamaterial
Authors: Wang Baoku , Liu Jing , Cui Jinhui , Liu Jialin , Tian Fengjun , Sun Weimin , Li Li
Published: March 2023

Non-linear metamaterials hold great promise for enhanced terahertz harmonic generation. Here, we numerically investigate enhanced terahertz third-harmonic generation (THG) by exploiting the symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (BICs) in graphene grating-like metamaterial. By symmetry breaking of metamaterials, BICs transform into quasi-BICs. The high Q-factor and strong localized field enhancement is achieved at quasi-BICs, leading to a boosted THG process with low incident intensity of fundamental frequency. The THG conversion efficiency reaches 3.1% at an incident intensity of 100 kW/cm2. The remarkably enhanced non-linear optical process in the proposed non-linear metamaterial constitutes an outstanding platform for on-chip terahertz non-linear conversion applications.
Increased respiratory modulation of cardiovascular control reflects improved blood pressure regulation in pregnancy
Authors: Miranda Hurtado Martín , Steinback Craig D. , Davenport Margie H. , Rodriguez-Fernandez Maria
Published: March 2023

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders put the maternal-fetal dyad at risk and are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Multiple efforts have been made to understand the physiological mechanisms behind changes in blood pressure. Still, to date, no study has focused on analyzing the dynamics of the interactions between the systems involved in blood pressure control. In this work, we aim to address this question by evaluating the phase coherence between different signals using wavelet phase coherence. Electrocardiogram, continuous blood pressure, electrocardiogram-derived respiration, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity signals were obtained from ten normotensive pregnant women, ten normotensive non-pregnant women, and ten pregnant women with preeclampsia during rest and cold pressor test. At rest, normotensive pregnant women showed higher phase coherence in the high-frequency band (0.15-0.4 Hz) between muscle sympathetic nerve activity and the RR interval, blood pressure, and respiration compared to non-pregnant normotensive women. Although normotensive pregnant women showed no phase coherence differences with respect to hypertensive pregnant women at rest, higher phase coherence between the same pairs of variables was found during the cold pressor test. These results suggest that, in addition to the increased sympathetic tone of normotensive pregnant women widely described in the existing literature, there is an increase in cardiac parasympathetic modulation and respiratory-driven modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure that could compensate sympathetic increase and make blood pressure control more efficient to maintain it in normal ranges. Moreover, blunted modulation could prevent its buffer effect and produce an increase in blood pressure levels, as observed in the hypertensive women in this study. This initial exploration of cardiorespiratory coupling in pregnancy opens the opportunity to follow up on more in-depth analyses and determine causal influences.
Acinar micromechanics in health and lung injury: what we have learned from quantitative morphology
Authors: Knudsen Lars , Hummel Benjamin , Wrede Christoph , Zimmermann Richard , Perlman Carrie E. , Smith Bradford J.
Published: March 2023

Within the pulmonary acini ventilation and blood perfusion are brought together on a huge surface area separated by a very thin blood-gas barrier of tissue components to allow efficient gas exchange. During ventilation pulmonary acini are cyclically subjected to deformations which become manifest in changes of the dimensions of both alveolar and ductal airspaces as well as the interalveolar septa, composed of a dense capillary network and the delicate tissue layer forming the blood-gas barrier. These ventilation-related changes are referred to as micromechanics. In lung diseases, abnormalities in acinar micromechanics can be linked with injurious stresses and strains acting on the blood-gas barrier. The mechanisms by which interalveolar septa and the blood-gas barrier adapt to an increase in alveolar volume have been suggested to include unfolding, stretching, or changes in shape other than stretching and unfolding. Folding results in the formation of pleats in which alveolar epithelium is not exposed to air and parts of the blood-gas barrier are folded on each other. The opening of a collapsed alveolus (recruitment) can be considered as an extreme variant of septal wall unfolding. Alveolar recruitment can be detected with imaging techniques which achieve light microscopic resolution. Unfolding of pleats and stretching of the blood-gas barrier, however, require electron microscopic resolution to identify the basement membrane. While stretching results in an increase of the area of the basement membrane, unfolding of pleats and shape changes do not. Real time visualization of these processes, however, is currently not possible. In this review we provide an overview of septal wall micromechanics with focus on unfolding/folding as well as stretching. At the same time we provide a state-of-the-art design-based stereology methodology to quantify microarchitecture of alveoli and interalveolar septa based on different imaging techniques and design-based stereology.
Pathophysiology of Cav1.3 L-type calcium channels in the heart
Authors: Zaveri Sahil , Srivastava Ujala , Qu Yongxia Sarah , Chahine Mohamed , Boutjdir Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Ca2+ plays a crucial role in excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes. Dysfunctional Ca2+ regulation alters the force of contraction and causes cardiac arrhythmias. Ca2+ entry into cardiomyocytes is mediated mainly through L-type Ca2+ channels, leading to the subsequent Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. L-type Ca2+ channels are composed of the conventional Cav1.2, ubiquitously expressed in all heart chambers, and the developmentally regulated Cav1.3, exclusively expressed in the atria, sinoatrial node, and atrioventricular node in the adult heart. As such, Cav1.3 is implicated in the pathogenesis of sinoatrial and atrioventricular node dysfunction as well as atrial fibrillation. More recently, Cav1.3 de novo expression was suggested in heart failure. Here, we review the functional role, expression levels, and regulation of Cav1.3 in the heart, including in the context of cardiac diseases. We believe that the elucidation of the functional and molecular pathways regulating Cav1.3 in the heart will assist in developing novel targeted therapeutic interventions for the aforementioned arrhythmias.
Metabolomic analysis of methyl jasmonate treatment on phytocannabinoid production in Cannabis sativa
Authors: Welling Matthew T. , Deseo Myrna A. , O’Brien Martin , Clifton Jacob , Bacic Antony , Doblin Monika S.
Published: March 2023

Cannabis sativa is a multi-use and chemically complex plant which is utilized for food, fiber, and medicine. Plants produce a class of psychoactive and medicinally important specialized metabolites referred to as phytocannabinoids (PCs). The phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a naturally occurring methyl ester of jasmonic acid and a product of oxylipin biosynthesis which initiates and regulates the biosynthesis of a broad range of specialized metabolites across a number of diverse plant lineages. While the effects of exogenous MeJA application on PC production has been reported, treatments have been constrained to a narrow molar range and to the targeted analysis of a small number of compounds. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry with data-dependent acquisition, we examined the global metabolomic effects of MeJA in C. sativa to explore oxylipin-mediated regulation of PC biosynthesis and accumulation. A dose–response relationship was observed, with an almost two-fold increase in PC content found in inflorescences of female clones treated with 15 mM MeJA compared to the control group. Comparison of the inflorescence metabolome across MeJA treatments coupled with targeted transcript analysis was used to elucidate key regulatory components contributing to PC production and metabolism more broadly. Revealing these biological signatures improves our understanding of the role of the oxylipin pathway in C. sativa and provides putative molecular targets for the metabolic engineering and optimization of chemical phenotype for medicinal and industrial end-uses.
Effects of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) manure as organic fertilizer on plant growth, feed quality, and soil bacterial community
Authors: Lee Junkyung , Jo Na-Yeon , Shim Su-Yeon , Linh Le Tran Yen , Kim Soo-Ryang , Lee Myung-Gyu , Hwang Sun-Goo
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The development of organic manure from livestock excreta is a useful source for sustainable crop production in environment-friendly agriculture. Organic manure increases soil microbial activity and organic matter (OM) supply. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers (CFs) leads to air and water pollution caused by toxic chemicals and gases, and soil quality degradation via nutrient imbalance due to supplying specific chemical components. Thus, the use of organic manure will serve as a long-term supply of various nutrients in soil via OM decomposition reaction as well as the maintenance of environment.

Methods

In this study, we aimed to analyze the diverse effects of Hanwoo manure (HM) on plant growth, feed quality, and soil bacterial communities in comparison with CFs, commercial poultry manure (CM), and the combined use of chemical fertilizer and Hanwoo manure (HM+CF). We analyzed the contents of crude matter (protein, fat, fiber, and ash), P, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) through feed quality analysis, and the contents or activities of total phenol, total flavonoid, ABTS, nitrite scavenging, and reducing power via the antioxidant assay. Furthermore, the soil microbial communities were determined using 16S rRNA sequencing. We compared the soil bacteria among different soil samples by using amplicon sequence variant (ASV) analysis.

Results and discussion

We observed increased OM in the soil of the HM group compared to that of the CF and non-treated groups over a period of two years. Moreover, HM+CF treatment enormously improved plant growth. Organic manure, especially HM, caused an increase in the content of crude ash and phosphorus in plants. There were no significant differences in total polyphenol, total flavonoid, ABTS, nitrite scavenging, and reducing power in plants between HM and CF groups. Finally, we detected 13 soil bacteria (Acidibacter, Algisphaera, Cystobacter, Microvirga, Ohtaekwangia, Panacagrimonas, Pseudarthrobacter, Reryanella, Rhodoligotrophos, Solirubrobacter, Stenotrophobacter, Tellurimicrobium, and Thermomarinilinea) that were considerably correlated with OM and available phosphorus, and three considerably correlated bacteria were specifically distributed in CF or organic manure. The results suggest that HM is a valuable source of organic manure that can replace CF for sustainable crop production.
An advanced deep learning models-based plant disease detection: A review of recent research
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Shah Babar , EI-Sappagh Shaker , Ali Akhtar , Ullah Asad , Alenezi Fayadh , Gechev Tsanko , Hussain Tariq , Ali Farman
Published: March 2023

Plants play a crucial role in supplying food globally. Various environmental factors lead to plant diseases which results in significant production losses. However, manual detection of plant diseases is a time-consuming and error-prone process. It can be an unreliable method of identifying and preventing the spread of plant diseases. Adopting advanced technologies such as Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) can help to overcome these challenges by enabling early identification of plant diseases. In this paper, the recent advancements in the use of ML and DL techniques for the identification of plant diseases are explored. The research focuses on publications between 2015 and 2022, and the experiments discussed in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of using these techniques in improving the accuracy and efficiency of plant disease detection. This study also addresses the challenges and limitations associated with using ML and DL for plant disease identification, such as issues with data availability, imaging quality, and the differentiation between healthy and diseased plants. The research provides valuable insights for plant disease detection researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals by offering solutions to these challenges and limitations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research in this field, highlighting the benefits and limitations of these methods, and proposing potential solutions to overcome the challenges of their implementation.
Cultural adaptations and cultural factors in EBI implementation with Latinx communities
Authors: Castro Felipe González , Berkel Cady , Epstein Dana R.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Cultural factors are constructs that capture important life experiences of Latinx/Hispanic individuals, families, and communities. Despite their importance for Latinx communities, Latinx cultural factors have yet to be fully incorporated into the literature of many social, behavioral science, and health service fields, including implementation science. This significant gap in the literature has limited in-depth assessments and a more complete understanding of the cultural life experiences of diverse Latinx community residents. This gap has also stifled the cultural adaptation, dissemination, and implementation of evidence based interventions (EBIs). Addressing this gap can inform the design, dissemination, adoption, implementation, and sustainability of EBIs developed to serve Latinx and other ethnocultural groups.

Methods

Based on a prior Framework Synthesis systematic review of Latinx stress-coping research for the years 2000–2020, our research team conducted a thematic analysis to identify salient Latinx cultural factors in this research field. This thematic analysis examined the Discussion sections of 60 quality empirical journal articles previously included into this prior Framework Synthesis literature review. In Part 1, our team conducted an exploratory analysis of potential Latinx cultural factors mentioned in these Discussion sections. In Part 2 we conducted a confirmatory analysis using NVivo 12 for a rigorous confirmatory thematic analysis.

Results

This procedure identified 13 salient Latinx cultural factors mentioned frequently in quality empirical research within the field of Latinx stress-coping research during the years 2000–2020.

Discussion

We defined and examined how these salient Latinx cultural factors can be incorporated into intervention implementation strategies and can be expanded to facilitate EBI implementation within diverse Latinx community settings.
Campaign-style governance of air pollution in China? A comprehensive analysis of the central environmental protection inspection
Authors: Feng Yanchao , Cheng Chuan , Hu Shilei , Cao Anqi
Published: March 2023

Central environmental protection inspection (CEPI) is a major institutional innovation in China's environmental governance, but its effectiveness in improving air quality is still unclear. However, the effectiveness of CEPI is of great significance and can be regarded as an important reference for deepening the reform of environmental governance system in China. This article takes the CEPI as a quasi-natural experiment and uses the regression discontinuity design (RDD) and the difference-in-differences (DID) methods to examine the effectiveness of this policy. The study found that the first round of CEPI reduced the air pollution of cities in the inspected provinces in a short time. Moreover, this positive policy effect persisted in the aftermath of the inspection, but this long-term effect is mainly reflected in PM10 and SO2. Heterogeneity analysis showed that CEPI was only effective in reducing air pollutants of industry-oriented cities, cities in Central and Eastern China, and cities with large or small population size. The moderating effect analysis indicated that a healthy relationship (close and clean) between the local governments and businesses was conducive to reducing air pollution. The research confirmed the presence of “selective” reduction of air pollutants in the long run caused by CEPI, thereby providing new inspiration for the improvement of campaign-style environmental governance and the follow-up CEPI work.
Developmental changes in and the relationship between psychological resilience and mental health problems in adolescents relocated for poverty alleviation in the context of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control
Authors: Zhu Hai , Song Juan , Zhang Rong , Wang Benbin , Shen Xiaosong
Published: March 2023

Background

Adolescents relocated for poverty alleviation have considerable mental health problems (MHPs) in the context of changing living environments and COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, and psychological resilience (PR) is closely related to MHPs. Existing studies have mainly used cross-sectional research to investigate the relationship between PR and MHPs using PR as a predictor variable.

Objective

This study investigated developmental changes in the PR and MHPs of relocated adolescents as well as the relationship between these factors.

Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted to assess the PR and MHPs of 1,284 relocated adolescents. Data were collected at approximately 12-month intervals at three time points: spring of 2020 (T1), spring of 2021 (T2), and spring of 2022 (T3). The 1284 adolescents consisted of 620 males and 664 females; 787 were in the fourth grade of elementary school, 455 were in the first grade of middle school, and 42 were in the first grade of high school. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 8.1 and methods such as latent growth models and cross-lagged regression analysis.

Results

(1) The PR level of relocated adolescents showed an overall increasing trend (slope = 0.16, p < 0.01), while the MHPs showed an overall decreasing trend (slope = −0.03, p < 0.01). (2) The initial PR level differed significantly from the initial MHPs level (β = −0.755, p = 0.00), and the rate of change in PR differed significantly from the rate of change in MHPs (β = −0.566, p = 0). The initial MHPs level differed significantly from that of PR (β = −0.732, p = 0.00), and the rate of change in MHPs differed significantly from the rate of change in PR (β = −0.514, p = 0.00). (3) Among the three sets of measurements of PR and MHPs, there were significant pairwise differences.

Conclusion

(1) The PR level of relocated adolescents increased over time, and the MHPs of relocated adolescents decreased over time. (2) The initial PR level of relocated adolescents had a negative predictive effect on the initial MHPs level, and the rate of change in PR had a negative predictive effect on the rate of change in MHPs. (3) The PR and MHPs of relocated adolescents exhibited a bidirectional, mutually influencing relationship.
Analysis and improvement of sports industry development and public health strategy under low-carbon economic structure
Authors: Zhang Wenhao , Mou Chuan
Published: March 2023

With the continuous development of society, various industries are rising and developing rapidly. Against this background, the energy crisis has come quietly. Therefore, to improve the quality of life of residents and promote the comprehensive and sustainable development of society, it is essential to enhance the development of the sports industry and formulate public health strategies under the background of a low carbon economy (LCE). Based on this, to promote the low-carbon development of the sports industry and optimize the formulation of social public health strategies, firstly, this paper introduces the low-carbon economic structure and its role in society. Then, it discusses the development of the sports industry and the necessity of perfecting public health strategy. Finally, based on LCE’s development background, the sports industry’s development situation in the whole society and M enterprises is analyzed, and suggestions are put forward to improve the public health strategy. The research results show that the current development prospect of the sports industry is extensive, and the added value of the sports industry will be 1,124.81 billion yuan in 2020, up by 11.6% year-on-year, accounting for 1.14% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although industrial development declined in 2021, the added value of the sports industry accounts for an increasing proportion of GDP yearly, which shows that the sports industry is playing an increasingly important role in economic growth. And through the analysis of the development of M enterprise sports industry as a whole and in different directions, this paper shows that enterprises should reasonably control the development of various industries to provide impetus for the overall development of enterprises. The innovation of this paper lies in the innovative use of the sports industry as the primary research object, and its development under LCE is studied. This paper not only supports the sustainable development of sports industry in the future, but also contributes to improving public health strategy.
Dental health of patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia: A controlled study
Authors: Larsson Amila , Regnstrand Tobias , Skott Pia , Mäkitie Outi , Björnsdottir Sigridur , Garming-Legert Karin
Published: March 2023

Objective

The present study compared the dental health of patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) with healthy age- and gender-matched controls to increase our knowledge of the impact of XLH on oral health.

Materials and methods

Twenty-two adult patients with XLH in the Stockholm region of Sweden were referred to the Department of Orofacial Medicine at Karolinska Institutet for an extended clinical and radiological examination. Pre-existing radiologic examinations of 44 healthy age- and gender-matched controls were retrieved from the Department of Oral Radiology, at Karolinska Institutet.

Results

The 22 patients with XLH (15 females, median age 38 years, range 20–71; 7 males, median age 49 years, range 24–67) had a significantly higher number of root-filled teeth compared to healthy controls (p = .001). In the XLH group, females had significantly better oral health than males, especially concerning endodontic and cariological status (p's = .01 and .02, respectively). Periodontal status differed non-significantly between the XLH and control groups.

Conclusion

Patients with XLH had a significantly lower oral health status compared to a healthy population especially concerning endodontic conditions. Male patients with XLH had a higher risk of poor oral health compared to female patients with XLH.