bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive analysis of hypoxia-related genes for prognosis value, immune status, and therapy in osteosarcoma patients
Authors: Han Tao , Wu Zhouwei , Zhang Zhe , Liang Jinghao , Xia Chuanpeng , Yan Hede
Published: January 2023

Osteosarcoma is a common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. The overall survival of osteosarcoma patients is remarkably poor. Herein, we sought to establish a reliable risk prognostic model to predict the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. Patients ’ RNA expression and corresponding clinical data were downloaded from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. A consensus clustering was conducted to uncover novel molecular subgroups based on 200 hypoxia-linked genes. A hypoxia-risk models were established by Cox regression analysis coupled with LASSO regression. Functional enrichment analysis, including Gene Ontology annotation and KEGG pathway analysis, were conducted to determine the associated mechanisms. Moreover, we explored relationships between the risk scores and age, gender, tumor microenvironment, and drug sensitivity by correlation analysis. We identified two molecular subgroups with significantly different survival rates and developed a risk model based on 12 genes. Survival analysis indicated that the high-risk osteosarcoma patients likely have a poor prognosis. The area under the curve (AUC) value showed the validity of our risk scoring model, and the nomogram indicates the model’s reliability. High-risk patients had lower Tfh cell infiltration and a lower stromal score. We determined the abnormal expression of three prognostic genes in osteosarcoma cells. Sunitinib can promote osteosarcoma cell apoptosis with down-regulation of KCNJ3 expression. In summary, the constructed hypoxia-related risk score model can assist clinicians during clinical practice for osteosarcoma prognosis management. Immune and drug sensitivity analysis can provide essential insights into subsequent mechanisms. KCNJ3 may be a valuable prognostic marker for osteosarcoma development.
Identification of ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis-associated genes in periodontitis-affected human periodontal tissue using integrated bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Pan Shuaifei , Li Yue , He Haokun , Cheng Shuguang , Li Jiang , Pathak Janak L.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory oral disease that destroys soft and hard periodontal support tissues. Multiple cell death modes including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to identify genes associated with ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis in different cells present in the periodontium of periodontitis patients.

Methods: Gingival tissues’ mRNA sequencing dataset GSE173078 of 12 healthy control and 12 periodontitis patients’ and the microarray dataset GSE10334 of 63 healthy controls and 64 periodontitis patients’ were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A total of 910 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained in GSE173078 were intersected with necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis-related genes to obtain the differential genes associated with cell death (DCDEGs), and the expression levels of 21 differential genes associated with cell death were verified with dataset GSE10334.

Results: Bioinformatic analysis revealed 21 differential genes associated with cell death attributed to ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis in periodontitis patients compared with healthy controls. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses revealed that 21 differential genes associated with cell death were related to various cellular and immunological pathways including inflammatory responses, necroptosis, and osteoclast differentiation. Additionally, the single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing data GSE171213 of 4 healthy controls and 5 periodontitis patients’ periodontal tissue was analyzed to obtain cell clustering and cell types attributed to differential genes associated with cell death. We found that among 21 DCDEGs, SLC2A3, FPR2, TREM1, and IL1B were mainly upregulated in neutrophils present in the periodontium of periodontitis patients. Gene overlapping analysis revealed that IL-1B is related to necroptosis and pyroptosis, TREM1 and FPR2 are related to pyroptosis, and SLC2A3 is related to ferroptosis. Finally, we utilized the CIBERSORT algorithm to assess the association between DCDEGs and immune infiltration phenotypes, based on the gene expression profile of GSE10334. The results revealed that the upregulated SLC2A3, FPR2, TREM1, and IL1B were positively correlated with neutrophil infiltration in the periodontium.

Discussion: The findings provide upregulated SLC2A3, FPR2, TREM1, and IL1B in neutrophils as a future research direction on the mode and mechanism of cell death in periodontitis and their role in disease pathogenicity.
Role of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skeletal muscle: A transcriptomic perspective of cortisol action
Authors: Aedo Jorge E. , Zuloaga Rodrigo , Aravena-Canales Daniela , Molina Alfredo , Valdés Juan Antonio
Published: January 2023

Cortisol is an essential regulator of neuroendocrine stress responses in teleost. Cortisol performs its effects through the modulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), activating gene expression. Until now the contribution of both receptors in the global transcriptional response in teleost skeletal muscle has not been explored. To understand in a comprehensive and global manner how GR and MR modulates the skeletal muscle transcriptomic response, we performed RNA-seq analysis. Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) pretreated with a suppressor of endogenous cortisol production were intraperitoneally injected with cortisol (10 mg/kg). We also included a treatment with mifepristone (GR antagonist) and eplerenone (MR antagonist) in the presence or absence of cortisol. cDNA libraries were constructed from the skeletal muscle of rainbow trout groups: vehicle, cortisol, mifepristone, eplerenone, mifepristone/cortisol and eplerenone/cortisol. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 135 transcripts were differentially expressed in cortisol vs. mifepristone/cortisol group, mainly associated to inflammatory response, ion transmembrane transport, and proteolysis. In the other hand, 68 transcripts were differentially expressed in cortisol vs. eplerenone/cortisol group, mainly associated to muscle contraction, and regulation of cell cycle. To validate these observations, we performed in vitro experiments using rainbow trout myotubes. In myotubes treated with cortisol, we found increased expression of cxcr2, c3, and clca3p mediated by GR, associated with inflammatory response, proteolysis, and ion transmembrane transport, respectively. Contrastingly, MR modulated the expression of myh2 and gadd45g mainly associated with muscle contraction and regulation of cell cycle, respectively. These results suggest that GR and MR have a differential participation in the physiological response to stress in teleost skeletal muscle.
Late-season biosynthesis of leaf fatty acids and n-alkanes of a mature beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree traced via13CO2 pulse-chase labelling and compound-specific isotope analysis
Authors: Speckert Tatjana C. , Petibon Fanny , Wiesenberg Guido L. B.
Published: January 2023

Leaf cuticular waxes play an important role in reducing evapotranspiration via diffusion. However, the ability of mature trees to regulate the biosynthesis of waxes to changing conditions (e.g., drought, light exposition) remain an open question, especially during the late growing season. This holds also true for one of the most widely distributed trees in Central Europe, the European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica L.). In order to investigate the ongoing formation of wax constituents like alkanes and fatty acids, we conducted a 13CO2 pulse-chase labelling experiment on sun-exposed and shaded branches of a mature beech tree during the late summer 2018. The 13C-label was traced via compound-specific δ13C isotope analysis of n-alkanes and fatty acids to determine the de-novo biosynthesis within these compound classes. We did not observe a significant change in lipid concentrations during the late growing season, but we found higher n-alkane concentrations in sun-exposed compared to shaded leaves in August and September. The n-alkane and fatty acid composition showed ongoing modifications during the late growing season. Together with the uptake and following subsequent decrease of the 13C-label, this suggests ongoing de-novo biosynthesis, especially of fatty acids in European beech leaves. Moreover, there is a high variability in the 13C-label among individual branches and between sun-exposed and shaded leaves. At the same time, sun-exposed leaves invest more of the assimilated C into secondary metabolites such as lipids than shaded leaves. This indicates that the investigated mature beech tree could adjust its lipid production and composition in order to acclimate to changes in microclimates within the tree crown and during the investigated period.
Postharvest chilling diminishes melon flavor via effects on volatile acetate ester biosynthesis
Authors: Zhang Huijun , Zhu Xiuxiu , Xu Runzhe , Yuan Yushu , Abugu Modesta N. , Yan Congsheng , Tieman Denise , Li Xiang
Published: January 2023

In postharvest handling systems, refrigeration can extend fruit shelf life and delay decay via slowing ripening progress; however, it selectively alters the biosynthesis of flavor-associated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which results in reduced flavor quality. Volatile esters are major contributors to melon fruit flavor. The more esters, the more consumers enjoy the melon fruit. However, the effects of chilling on melon flavor and volatiles associated with consumer liking are yet to be fully understood. In the present study, consumer sensory evaluation showed that chilling changed the perception of melon fruit. Total ester content was lower after chilling, particularly volatile acetate esters (VAEs). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that transcript abundance of multiple flavor-associated genes in fatty acid and amino acid pathways was reduced after chilling. Additionally, expression levels of the transcription factors (TFs), such as NOR, MYB, and AP2/ERF, also were substantially downregulated, which likely altered the transcript levels of ester-associated pathway genes during cold storage. VAE content and expression of some key genes recover after transfer to room temperature. Therefore, chilling-induced changes of VAE profiles were consistent with expression patterns of some pathway genes that encode specific fatty acid- and amino acid-mobilizing enzymes as well as TFs involved in fruit ripening, metabolic regulation, and hormone signaling.
Construction of a genome-wide genetic linkage map and identification of quantitative trait loci for powdery mildew resistance in Gerbera daisy
Authors: Bhattarai Krishna , Sharma Sadikshya , Verma Sujeet , Peres Natalia A. , Xiao Shunyuan , Clark David G. , Deng Zhanao
Published: January 2023

Powdery mildew (PM) is a common fungal disease in many important crops. The PM caused by Podosphaera xanthii has been the most challenging problem in commercial Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) production globally, often leading to severe losses of crop yield and quality. A small number of PM-resistant breeding lines and cultivars have been reported in Gerbera, but the underlying genetics for PM resistance in Gerbera is largely unknown. Scarcity of genomic resources such as genetic linkage maps and molecular markers has severely hindered the effort to understand the genetic basis and locate loci controlling PM resistance in Gerbera. This study aimed to construct a genome-wide genetic linkage map, identify quantitative trait loci (QTL), and molecular markers for PM resistance in Gerbera. A segregating mapping population was developed by crossing PM-resistant and -susceptible Gerbera breeding lines, genotyped by sequencing, and phenotyped for PM resistance. A genome-wide genetic linkage map constructed with 791 single polymorphic site (SNP) markers spans 1912.30 cM across 27 linkage groups (LG) and reaches a density of 1 marker per 2.42 cM. One major consistent QTL was discovered in LG16, explaining more than 16.6% of the phenotypic variance for PM resistance. The QTL was tagged with two flanking SNP markers. The availability of this genetic linkage map will be very useful for locating and tagging QTLs for other important traits in Gerbera, and the newly discovered QTL and SNP markers will enable development of molecular markers for improving Gerbera for resistance to PM.
Soil degradation regulates the effects of litter decomposition on soil microbial nutrient limitation: Evidence from soil enzymatic activity and stoichiometry
Authors: Li Jianan , Niu Ximei , Wang Ping , Yang Jingjing , Liu Jinwen , Wu Donghui , Guan Pingting
Published: January 2023

Soil microorganisms could obtain energy and nutrients during litter decomposition with the help of soil extracellular enzymes. The litter types were among the most critical factors that affect soil extracellular enzyme activities. However, how litter types modulate the soil extracellular enzyme activity with grassland gradation is unclear. Here, we conducted a 240-day experiment of two different types of litter decomposition on soil extracellular enzyme activity and stoichiometry in different degraded grasslands. We found that C-acquiring enzyme activity and the enzyme stoichiometry of C/N were higher in Chloris virgata litter than in Leymus chinensis litter at lightly degraded level and C-acquiring enzyme activity in C. virgata was 16.96% higher than in L. chinensis. P-acquiring enzyme activity had the same trend with litter types in moderately and highly degraded levels and it was 20.71% and 30.89% higher in C. virgata than that in L. chinensis, respectively. The change of the enzyme stoichiometry with litter types was only showed in the enzyme stoichiometry of C/N at lightly degraded level, suggesting that litter types only affected the microbial C limitation in lightly degraded grassland. Almost all soil extracellular enzyme activities and extracellular enzyme stoichiometry, except the enzyme stoichiometry of N/P, decreased with grassland degraded level increasing. All vector angles were less than 45° suggesting that soil microorganisms were limited by N rather than by P during the decomposition process. Enzyme vector analysis revealed that soil microbial communities were co-limited by C and N during litter decomposition. Moreover, based on Random Forest (explaining more than 80%), we found that soil total nitrogen, total carbon, total phosphorus, dissolved organic C, pH and EC were important factors affecting soil enzyme activities by degradation levels. Our results emphasized that degradation levels could modulate the influences of litter types on soil extracellular enzyme activity. Our study enhanced our understanding in resource requirements for microbial communities to litter resources in degraded grassland and helped us to provide new ideas for improving degraded grassland ecosystems.
Wild emmer wheat, the progenitor of modern bread wheat, exhibits great diversity in the VERNALIZATION1 gene
Authors: Strejčková Beáta , Mazzucotelli Elisabetta , Čegan Radim , Milec Zbyněk , Brus Jan , Çakır Esra , Mastrangelo Anna Maria , Özkan Hakan , Šafář Jan
Published: January 2023

Wild emmer wheat is an excellent reservoir of genetic variability that can be utilized to improve cultivated wheat to address the challenges of the expanding world population and climate change. Bearing this in mind, we have collected a panel of 263 wild emmer wheat (WEW) genotypes across the Fertile Crescent. The genotypes were grown in different locations and phenotyped for heading date. Genome-wide association mapping (GWAS) was carried out, and 16 SNPs were associated with the heading date. As the flowering time is controlled by photoperiod and vernalization, we sequenced the VRN1 gene, the most important of the vernalization response genes, to discover new alleles. Unlike most earlier attempts, which characterized known VRN1 alleles according to a partial promoter or intron sequences, we obtained full-length sequences of VRN-A1 and VRN-B1 genes in a panel of 95 wild emmer wheat from the Fertile Crescent and uncovered a significant sequence variation. Phylogenetic analysis of VRN-A1 and VRN-B1 haplotypes revealed their evolutionary relationships and geographic distribution in the Fertile Crescent region. The newly described alleles represent an attractive resource for durum and bread wheat improvement programs.
The effects of modified problem-solving therapy on depression, coping, and self-efficacy in elderly nursing home residents
Authors: Wu Xiaoqi , Li Jie , Zhang Chun , Zhou Xing , Dong Xiaoqian , Cao Huan , Duan Yinglong , Wang Sha , Liu Min , Zhang Qiuxiang , Xie Jianfei
Published: January 2023

Background

With the increasing trend of aging, the mental health problems of the elderly require urgent attention. Depression is a common psychological problem of the elderly, which affects their quality of life and physical health. Problem-solving therapy can effectively improve depression in the elderly, but there are few studies on problem-solving therapy for depression in the elderly in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of modified problem-solving therapy (MPST) on depression, coping and self-efficacy in elderly nursing home residents.

Methods

This study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 60 older adults from two nursing homes were recruited to participate in this study and randomly assigned to the intervention group (MPST) or the control group (usual care). The intervention lasted 8 weeks, and information on depression, coping skills, and self-efficacy was collected before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months after the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare changes at multiple time points between the two groups. If the interaction effect (group * time) was significant, independent samples t-test was used to compare the differences in outcome indicators between groups at post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention.

Results

Compared to the control group, depression scores in the intervention group were significantly lower at the end of the intervention and remained significantly lower than the control group 3 months post-intervention (p < 0.05). Negative coping and self-efficacy in the intervention group also improved significantly at the end of the intervention, and 3 months post-intervention, while positive coping in the two groups did not differ significantly at 3 months post-intervention.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that MPST could be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing positive coping and self-efficacy levels in older adults in nursing homes.
Mindfulness-based interventions to reduce anxiety among Chinese college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Jun , Xu Can , Wan Keyan , Liu Yihong , Liu Liu
Published: January 2023

Mindfulness-based interventions are found to have a positive effect on an individual’s mental health. Using a meta-analysis method, this study examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alleviating anxiety among Chinese college students. Using six international and two Chinese electronic databases, we comprehensively researched literature published between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2021. The literature was then carefully selected and classified. The literature selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were all independently conducted by two members of the research team; any disagreements were resolved through consultation with a third researcher. A total of 11 original articles met all the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that mindfulness-based interventions have a positive effect on the remission of anxiety among Chinese college students. This confirms the need to generalize mindfulness-based interventions as a form of treatment and prevention for anxiety among Chinese college students.
Typologies of people’s preexisting political ideology and values would determine their post-pandemic mental health and political behaviors: Evidence from China
Authors: Pan Shaojie , Xie Xiaoqin , Xu Linghong
Published: January 2023

The pandemic of COVID-19 has caused economic and social crisis across the world. Existing studies have shown that the uncertain social context has profoundly affected people’s life, triggering a variety of social psychological phenomena including the deterioration of mental health and the change of political behavioral patterns. However, little has been known about the differences in people’s pre-pandemic political ideology and their influences on people’s mental health and political behaviors after the pandemic. Using the secondary data from the 2018 and 2020 China Family Panel Studies, we measured nationalism tendencies, state performance ratings, social justice evaluation and life satisfaction of 29,629 adults before the pandemic. Using latent profile analysis (LPA), we examined the typologies of respondents’ political ideology and values. Five types emerged to identify respondents with different political ideology and values: (Class-1) High nationalism tendency, country evaluation, social justice perception, and life satisfaction; (Class-2) Low life satisfaction; (Class-3) Moderate ratings; (Class-4) Low nationalism tendency; and (Class-5) Low country evaluation, low social justice perception. We further explored the predicting roles of those typologies on people’s depressive symptoms and political engagement behaviors after the pandemic. We found that, after the pandemic, although the depressive symptoms of people with low life satisfaction (Class-2) and low country and society ratings (Class-5) eased, they still tended to have more severe depressive symptoms than the Moderate ratings group (Class-3). People with low life satisfaction (Class-2) were also less likely to follow political information than the moderate group (Class-3). Our research revealed how the psychology and behaviors of Chinese people with different political views changed when faced with uncertainty in social context. Further research needs to be carried out to depict how these changes occur.
A corpus-based study of the translation of modal verbs in the three versions of Shih chi
Authors: Yang Lei , Zhang Yue , Duan Manfu
Published: January 2023

Modality plays an important part in verbal communication, as it can reveal the speaker’s views and perspectives. The modal verb, as an essential component of the modality system, has been a hot research topic and a challenge in academic circles in recent years. Analyzing the modal verbs in a text may indicate the context produced by the translator in the translation and the identity difference between the translator and the reader. In this study, three representative English translations of Shih chi are selected for comparative analysis with the original text. With the help of corpus techniques, the paper investigates the differences in the use of modal verbs by various translators, the distribution of quantitative changes and their influence on translations, as well as the historical and cultural backgrounds and identities of the translators that led to these differences. It is found that owing to the different professional identities of the translators and historical and cultural contexts in which they live, the choice of modal verbs and the shifts of modality values in the three translations are distinct, leading to different translation styles.
Parents’ planning, children’s agency and heritage language education: Re-storying the language experiences of three Chinese immigrant families in Australia
Authors: Shen Chunxuan , Jiang Wenying
Published: January 2023

This study delves into the heritage language experiences of Australian-born Chinese immigrant children under the framework of family language policy. Storytelling as a narrative inquiry method is used to reveal the lived experiences of the protagonists in relation to heritage language and culture. The three family stories involved for case studies reveal different levels of parent agency in Chinese immigrant families regarding their children’s home language use and heritage language education. It is noted that the level of child agency corresponds with the level of their parent agency. Where parents strongly advocate and practice heritage language maintenance, stronger agency is observed in their children to continue the use and learning of their heritage language. In addition, maintaining harmony while parents are implementing family language policies and providing children with formal instruction in heritage language are conducive to heritage language development, particularly in terms of its literacy.
An impaired learning environment: Resident physicians’ experience of the transition to pandemic care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
Authors: Brulin Emma , Henriksson Kristina , Landstad Bodil J.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Extensive studies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have shown negative effects on physicians-in-training. Besides a high workload, their learning environment has been affected. A quality learning environment is vital for residents’ physician’s clinical development and also their health. Nevertheless, few studies have explored this. The aim of this study was to explore resident physicians’ experiences of transition to pandemic care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.

Method

In this qualitative study, 12 Swedish resident physicians were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. They were interviewed between June and October of 2020 and asked to reflect on the pandemic and, more specifically, the first wave. The empirical material was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in one theme and four categories.

Results

The theme identified was An impaired learning environment which signifies the disruptions the resident physicians experienced during the first wave of the pandemic. The four categories, Professional role insecurity, High expectations but little influence, Stagnant clinical development, and Professional growth through experience, describe in what way the learning environment was impacted.
Histone deacetylase inhibitors mitigate antipsychotic risperidone-induced motor side effects in aged mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Rodriguez Guadalupe , Fisher Daniel W. , McClarty Bryan , Montalvo-Ortiz Janitza , Cui Qiaoling , Chan C. Savio , Dong Hongxin
Published: January 2023

Antipsychotic drugs are still widely prescribed to control various severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in the elderly and dementia patients although they are off-label use in the United States. However, clinical practice shows greater side effects and lower efficacy of antipsychotics for this vulnerable population and the mechanisms surrounding this aged-related sensitivity are not well understood. Our previous studies have shown that aging-induced epigenetic alterations may be involved in the increasing severity of typical antipsychotic haloperidol induced side effects in aged mice. Still, it is unknown if similar epigenetic mechanisms extend to atypical antipsychotics, which are most often prescribed to dementia patients combined with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. In this study, we report that atypical antipsychotic risperidone also causes increased motor side effect behaviors in aged mice and 5xFAD mice. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor Valproic Acid and Entinostat can mitigate the risperidone induced motor side effects. We further showed besides D2R, reduced expression of 5-HT2A, one of the primary atypical antipsychotic targets in the striatum of aged mice that are also mitigated by HDAC inhibitors. Finally, we demonstrate that specific histone acetylation mark H3K27 is hypoacetylated at the 5htr2a and Drd2 promoters in aged mice and can be reversed with HDAC inhibitors. Our work here establishes evidence for a mechanism where aging reduces expression of 5-HT2A and D2R, the key atypical antipsychotic drug targets through epigenetic alteration. HDAC inhibitors can restore 5-HT2A and D2R expression in aged mice and decrease the motor side effects in aged and 5xFAD mice.
Are Alzheimer's and coronary artery diseases genetically related to longevity?
Authors: Bellou Eftychia , Escott-Price Valentina
Published: January 2023

Introduction

In the last decade researchers have attempted to investigate the shared genetic architecture of longevity and age-related diseases and assess whether the increased longevity in certain people is due to protective alleles in the risk genes for a particular condition or whether there are specific “longevity” genes increasing the lifespan independently of age-related conditions' risk genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the shared genetic component between longevity and two age-related conditions.

Methods

We performed a cross-trait meta-analysis of publicly available genome-wide data for Alzheimer's disease, coronary artery disease and longevity using a subset-based approach provided by the R package ASSET.

Results

Despite the lack of strong genetic correlation between longevity and the two diseases, we identified 38 genome-wide significant lead SNPs across 22 independent genomic loci. Of them 6 were found to be potentially shared among the three traits mapping to genes including DAB2IP, DNM2, FCHO1, CLPTM1, and SNRPD2. We also identified 19 novel genome-wide associations for the individual traits in this study. Functional annotations and biological pathway enrichment analyses suggested that pleiotropic variants are involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and plasma lipoprotein and neurotransmitter clearance processes.

Discussion

In summary, we have been able to advance in the knowledge of the genetic overlap existing among longevity and the two most common age-related disorders.
Metabolic syndrome severity score in the middle-aged and elderly Iranian population: A cross-sectional survey of Bandare-Kong Cohort Study (the findings of PERSIAN Cohort Study)
Authors: Ghanbarnejad Amin , Kheirandish Masoumeh , Yousefzade Feysal , Rahimi Arash , Azarbad Abnoos , Nejatizadeh Azim , Shahmoradi Mehdi
Published: January 2023

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as the presence of several metabolic risk factors. The traditional MetS criteria have been considered insufficient for evaluating individuals at risk. MetS has always been categorized using binary criteria, which deny that the risk associated with MetS is likely to exist as a continuum. Also, MetS may present differently depending on age, sex, race, or ethnicity. We aimed to derive age-sex-specific equations for MetS severity scores within a southern Iranian population.

Methods

This study used first-phase data from the Bandare-Kong Non-Communicable Diseases (BKNCD) Cohort Study as part of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). After exclusion of the pregnant women, diabetic patients, and individuals taking antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, and antidiabetic medications, 2,735 individuals aged 35 to 70 years were selected for analysis. The diagnosis of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria for the Iranian population. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to formulate MetS severity scores. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to validate MetS severity score equations for age-sex-specific categories.

Results

Triglyceride had the highest factor loading range in all age-sex categories for determining the MetS severity score. Conversely, systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) exhibited the lowest factor loadings across all age-sex groups. In both sexes, when age was considered, systolic blood pressure and FPG factor loadings were less significant among subjects aged ≥45 and 35–44 years, respectively.

Conclusion

MetS severity scores might be more applicable than the current criteria of MetS. Prospective population-based studies should be conducted to assess the accuracy and validity of the MetS severity score for predicting cardiometabolic diseases.
Sociocultural–psychological predictors influencing parents' decision-making regarding HPV vaccination for their adolescent daughters in mainland China: An extended TPB model
Authors: Zhang Lingmin , Yang Jian , Cao Ye , Kang Wanying
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Enhancing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake rates to protect women's health is an important public health issue worldwide. China has taken a series of measures in recent years to promote HPV vaccination among school-aged girls, but the vaccine uptake rate remains low. Investigating the factors influencing vaccination-related decision-making of adolescent girls' parents is key to solving the problem. This study aimed to examine the influence of sociocultural-psychological predictors, including exposure to HPV-related stories (positive/negative), affective reactions (pride/regret), injunctive norms on the Internet and perceived moral obligation, on parents' HPV vaccination-related decision-making for girls aged 13–15 years in mainland China.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey using quota sampling was conducted in February 2022. Four hundred and five valid and qualified questionnaires were obtained. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was performed by SmartPLS 3 (i) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement models of 11 constructs, and (ii) to test the effect relationships of the sociocultural–psychological predictors on parents' intention to vaccinate their daughters.

Results

The study findings showed that parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination was influenced by sociocultural and psychological factors. At the level of individual psychological factors, exposure to positive stories was significantly associated with perceived vaccine effectiveness (β = 0.331, t = 8.448, p < 0.001), which strongly predicted the attitude toward vaccination (β = 0.521, t = 8.133, p < 0.001); anticipated pride had more positive influence on vaccination-related decision-making (β = 0.156, t = 2.176, p < 0.05) than anticipated regret. In terms of social influence, injunctive norms on the Internet had a significantly positive influence on vaccination intention (β = 0.127, t = 2.382, p < 0.05), similar to descriptive norms (β = 0.135, t = 3.358, p < 0.01). Perceived moral obligation at the cultural level was the strongest predictor of parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination (β = 0.193, t = 2.139, p < 0.05).

Discussion

This study is the first in mainland China to systematically examine the sociocultural-psychological predictors of parents' decision-making to vaccinate their 13–15-year-old daughters against HPV. A new extended TPB model with a sociocultural-psychological approach was developed. This model can support the investigation of factors affecting HPV vaccine uptake rates in the mainland Chinese population and similar populations and help to understand the differences in vaccination-related decision-making between Eastern and Western cultures. Furthermore, the study provided some suggestions for HPV vaccination communication campaigns targeting adolescent girls' parents.
Chronic liver diseases and erectile dysfunction
Authors: Zang Guanghui , Sun Xv , Sun Yufeng , Zhao Yan , Dong Yang , Pang Kun , Cheng Ping , Wang Meng , Zheng Yuli
Published: January 2023

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are characterized by progressive necrosis of hepatocytes, which leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and ultimately liver dysfunction. The statistics of 2020 shows that the number of patients with CLDs, including chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, and cirrhosis, may exceed 447 million in China. The liver is a crucial organ for the metabolism of various substances, including sex hormones and lipids. CLDs frequently result in abnormalities in the metabolism of sex hormones, glucose, and lipids, as well as mental and psychological illnesses, all of which are significant risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED). It has been reported that the prevalence of ED in male patients with CLDs ranges from 24.6 to 85.0%. According to a survey of Caucasians, liver transplantation may improve the erectile function of CLDs patients with ED. This finding supports the link between CLDs and ED. In addition, ED is often a precursor to a variety of chronic diseases. Given this correlation and the significant prevalence of CLDs, it is important to evaluate the epidemiology, risk factors, etiology, and treatment outcomes of ED in male patients with CLDs, expecting to attract widespread attention.
Infectious Mononucleosis: The Kissing Disease
Authors: Sousa Rita Matos , Martins Ana Filipa , Dias Mónica , Regadas Maria João
Published: January 2023

In 1964, a group of scientists was using a microscope to study the cells of someone with a disease called Burkitt’s lymphoma. They saw small particles inside the cells and discovered they were viruses. This virus is now named Epstein-Barr virus, and it causes a disease called infectious mononucleosis, also known as the kissing disease. This is a tricky disease because it can have many symptoms that are also common to other diseases. Have you ever had a sore throat and fever? Maybe it was caused by Epstein-Barr virus! This virus mainly affects the cells of the lymphatic system, which defends the body from infections, so you can imagine why it is so interesting! Keep reading to learn more about this curious disease.
Interrogating solar flare loop models with IRIS observations 2: Plasma properties, energy transport, and future directions
Authors: Kerr Graham S.
Published: January 2023

During solar flares a tremendous amount of magnetic energy is released and transported through the Sun’s atmosphere and out into the heliosphere. Despite over a century of study, many unresolved questions surrounding solar flares are still present. Among those are how does the solar plasma respond to flare energy deposition, and what are the important physical processes that transport that energy from the release site in the corona through the transition region and chromosphere? Attacking these questions requires the concert of advanced numerical simulations and high spatial-, temporal-, and spectral-resolution observations. While flares are 3D phenomenon, simulating the NLTE flaring chromosphere in 3D and performing parameter studies of 3D models is largely outwith our current computational capabilities. We instead rely on state-of-the-art 1D field-aligned simulations to study the physical processes that govern flares. Over the last decade, data from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) have provided the crucial observations with which we can critically interrogate the predictions of those flare loop models. Here in Paper 2 of a two-part review of IRIS and flare loop models, I discuss how forward modelling flares can help us understand the observations from IRIS, and how IRIS can reveal where our models do well and where we are likely missing important processes, focussing in particular on the plasma properties, energy transport mechanisms, and future directions of flare modelling.
Why do French winegrowers adopt soil organic carbon sequestration practices? Understanding motivations and barriers
Authors: Payen Florian Thomas , Moran Dominic , Cahurel Jean-Yves , Aitkenhead Matthew , Alexander Peter , MacLeod Michael
Published: January 2023

Soil carbon sequestration (SCS) practices on French agricultural land are part of the portfolio of actions available to policymakers in the field of climate change mitigation and are central to the success of the “4 per 1,000” initiative, launched by France in 2015. To date, there has been limited research considering their applicability to vineyards. A survey was circulated to 506 French winegrowers to identify the adoption rate of six SCS practices in the viticultural sector (applying organic amendments, using biochar, returning pruning residues to the soil, no-tillage, cover cropping, and introducing or preserving hedges in the vineyard) and to explore motives and barriers to adoption. The survey also investigated ways of overcoming barriers to adoption and winegrowers' perception of agri-environment measures. Differences in motivations and barriers between SCS practices were found, and winegrowers themselves suggested a need for improved communication of evidence about SCS practices and better-targeted policy incentives to support adoption.
Medium to long term follow-up of survival and quality of life in patients with primary tumors of the cervical spine: Experience From a large single center
Authors: Xu Nanfang , Chang Shuai , Liu Xiaoguang , Jiang Liang , Yu Miao , Wu Fengliang , Dang Lei , Zhou Hua , Li Yan , Wang Yongqiang , Liu Xiao , Wu Yunxia , Wei Feng , Liu Zhongjun
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the survival and medium to long term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with primary cervical spinal tumors in a cross-sectional study and to identify any significant associations with demographic or clinical characteristics.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with primary cervical spinal tumors were retrospectively enrolled and their clinical, radiologic, and follow-up data (specifically the EQ-5D questionnaire) were collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox time-dependent regression analyses were performed to examine the significance of certain variables on overall survival. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify variables significant for overall HRQoL and each dimension of the EQ-5D.

Results

A total of 341 patients were enrolled in the study with a mean follow-up of 70 months. The diagnosis was benign in 246 cases, malignant in 84, and unconfirmed in 11. The 5-year overall survival rate was 86% and the 10-year overall survival rate was 65%. Multivariate analysis suggested that surgical treatment (P = 0.002, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.431, 95% CI. [0.254, 0.729]), benign and malignant tumors [P < 0.001, HR = 2.788, 95% CI. (1.721, 4.516)], tumor and surrounding normal tissue boundary [P = 0.010, HR = 1.950, 95% CI. (1.171, 3.249)], and spinal instability [P = 0.031, HR = 1.731, 95% CI. (1.051, 2.851)] still had significant effects on survival.

Conclusions

In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the survival period and medium and long-term health-related quality of life of patients with primary tumors of the cervical spine, and analyzed the significant related factors of tumor clinical characteristics. Surgery, myelopathy, malignancy, spinal pain relieved by lying down or supine position, and tumor infiltration on MRI were significant predictors for overall survival. Enneking stage and age were significant predictors for HRQoL.
Effect of integrated perioperative rehabilitation intervention under the fast-track surgery concept on stress and complications in patients undergoing craniocerebral injury surgery
Authors: Zhao Bin , Wang Heng
Published: January 2023

Objective

To observe the intervention effect of perioperative rehabilitation intervention of integrated medical care the concept of FTS on stress response and postoperative complications in patients undergoing craniocerebral injury surgery.

Methods

70 patients with Traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of our Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were as the research objects and were divided into general group and FTS group according to the random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. The general group was intervened with perioperative basic nursing measures for TBI, and the FTS group was intervened with perioperative rehabilitation model of integrated medical care under the concept of FTS on the basis of the general group. The two groups of patients were compared in hemodynamic indexes (heart rate, mean arterial pressure), stress hormone levels (CORT, GLU, E), changes in motor neurological function (GCS score, NHISS score, FMA score), occurrence of postoperative complications (infection, pressure sores, rebleeding, central hyperthermia), short-term quality of life (SF-36) before and after the intervention.

Results

After intervention, the levels of HR, MAP, COR, GLU, and E were significantly lower in FTS group than in the general group (all P < 0.05). After intervention, the Fugl-Meyer score and Barthel index score of upper and lower extremities in both groups were significantly higher than those before intervention, and the FTS group was higher than the general group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the NIHSS scores were significantly lower in both groups than before the intervention, and the FTS group was lower than the general group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Short-term physical function, somatic pain, physical function, general health status, social function, energy, mental health, and emotional function scores were significantly higher in the FTS group than in thegeneral group, and all differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The total incidence of infection, pressure ulcers, rebleeding, central high fever and other complications in the FTS group was significantly lower than that in the general group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The implementation of integrated perioperative rehabilitation interventions under the concept of FTS for patients with TBI can significantly alleviate patients’ stress, promote recovery, reduce the incidence of complications, and improve short-term quality of life, which is worthy of clinical promotion.