bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Toxoplasma gondii-specific SAG1, GRA7 and BAG1 proteins in serodiagnosis of animal toxoplasmosis
Authors: Qi Tongsheng , Ai Jingkai , Sun Yali , Ma Hejia , Kang Ming , You Xiaoqian , Li Jixu
Published: December 2022

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite T. gondii which is widely prevalent in humans and animals worldwide. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and distinguishing acute or chronic T. gondii infections have utmost importance for humans and animals. The TgSAG1, TgGRA7, and TgBAG1 proteins were used in the present study to develop the serological rSAG1-ELISA, rGRA7-ELISA and rBAG1-ELISA methods for the testing of T. gondii specific IgG and IgM antibodies and differentiating acute or chronic toxoplasmosis in 3733 animals, including Tibetan sheep, yaks, pigs, cows, cattle, horses, chickens, camels and donkeys from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The ELISA tests showed that the overall positivity of IgG antibody was 21.1% (786/3733), 15.3% (570/3733) and 18.2% (680/3733) for rSAG1-, rGRA7- and rBAG1-ELISA, respectively, and the positivity of IgM antibody was 11.8% (439/3733), 13.0% (486/3733) and 11.8% (442/3733) for rSAG1-, rGRA7- and rBAG1-ELISA, respectively. A total of 241 animals (6.5%) positive for all rSAG1-, rGRA7- and rBAG1-IgG were found in this study, and the 141 animals (3.8%) tested were anti-T. gondii IgM positive in all three ELISAs. Moreover, the 338, 284 and 377 animals were IgG positive in rSAG1 + rGRA7-, rBAG1 + rGRA7- and rSAG1 + rBAG1- ELISAs respectively, and the 346, 178 and 166 animals in rSAG1 + rGRA7-, rBAG1 + rGRA7- and rSAG1 + rBAG1-ELISAs were IgM positive respectively. The results confirmed that the application of SAG1, GRA7, and BAG1 recombinant antigens could successfully be used in the detection of specific IgG and IgM antibodies for distinguishing between acute or chronic T. gondii infections. It is inferred that the forms in which current animal species in the plateau area were infected with T. gondii, and the period of infection or the clinical manifestations of the current infections may be different. The present study provides substantial clinical evidence for the differential diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, and the classification of acute and chronic T. gondii infections.
From private phones to public screens: Cross-media recontextualization of chat discourse in the case of the Austrian ÖVP corruption affair
Authors: Pfurtscheller Daniel
Published: December 2022

The profound establishment of text-based interaction via mobile messenger services has not only changed interpersonal communication, but also reshaped its quotability. Drawing on the notion of recontextualization, this paper investigates the cross-media transfer-and-transformation of text messages from their former confidential contexts into public media environments. The data are drawn from the media discourse on the corruption affair of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which was triggered by the publication of confidential chat messages in the fall of 2021. Comparing the presentation of text messages in the journalistic media with their intertextual antecedents (in investigative files and related documents), the analysis highlights several linguistic and visual transformations. The findings demonstrate how formerly private chat interactions have been represented in media discourse and reveal different multimodal forms of cross-media quotation, ranging from linguistic replay and visual restaging to elaborate forms in which text messaging is audio-visually re-enacted. These modes of cross-media recontextualization differ in the degree to which the mediality of the digital chat discourse is conveyed or imitated. Through this media linguistic lens, the study contributes to the theory of recontextualization and raises the question what concept of quotation and re-enactment is appropriate and linguistically due in the age of a deep digitalization of everyday communication.
Cardiac-specific renalase overexpression alleviates CKD-induced pathological cardiac remodeling in mice
Authors: Wang Yi , Bai Linnan , Wen Jiejun , Zhang Fangfei , Gu Sijie , Wang Feng , Yin Jianyong , Wang Niansong
Published: December 2022

Introduction

CKD-induced pathological cardiac remodeling is characterized by myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. The available therapeutic options are limited, it is thus urgently needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. Renalase (RNLS) is a newly discovered protein secreted by the kidney and was found beneficial in many renal diseases. But whether it exerts protective effects on cardiac remodeling in CKD remains unclear.

Methods

RNLS knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were both used to build CKD models and the adeno-associated virus (AAV9) system was used to overexpress RNLS cardiac specifically. Echocardiography was performed to detect cardiac structural changes every 6 weeks until 18 weeks post-surgery. High throughput sequencing was performed to understand the underlying mechanisms and the effects of RNLS on cardiac fibroblasts were validated in vitro.

Results

Knockout of RNLS aggravated cardiac remodeling in CKD, while RNLS cardiac-specific overexpression significantly reduced left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis induced by CKD. The following RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that RNLS significantly downregulated the extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction pathway, ECM organization, and several ECM-related proteins. GSEA results showed RNLS significantly downregulated several profibrotic biological processes of cardiac fibroblasts which were upregulated by CKD, including fibroblast proliferation, leukocyte migration, antigen presentation, cytokine production, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In vitro, we validated that RNLS reduced the primary cardiac fibroblast proliferation and α-SMA expression stimulated by TGF-β.

Conclusion

In this study, we examined the cardioprotective role of RNLS in CKD-induced cardiac remodeling. RNLS may be a potential therapeutic factor that exerts an anti-fibrotic effect in pathological cardiac remodeling.
The effects of long COVID-19, its severity, and the need for immediate attention: Analysis of clinical trials and Twitter data
Authors: Bhattacharyya Arinjita , Seth Anand , Rai Shesh
Published: December 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic since March 2020 by the World Health Organization; identifying the disease progression, predicting patient outcomes early, the possibility of long-term adverse events through effective modeling, and the use of real-world data are of immense importance to effective treatment, resource allocation, and prevention of severe adverse events of grade 4 or 5.

Methods

First, we raise awareness about the different clinical trials on long COVID-19. The trials were selected with the search term “long COVID-19” available in ClinicalTrials.gov. Second, we curated the recent tweets on long-haul COVID-19 and gave an overview of the sentiments of the people. The tweets obtained with the query term #long COVID-19 consisted of 8,436 tweets between 28 August 2022 and 06 September 2022. We utilized the National Research Council (NRC) Emotion Lexicon method for sentiment analysis. Finally, we analyze the retweet and favorite counts are associated with the sentiments of the tweeters via a negative binomial regression model.

Results

Our results find that there are two types of clinical trials being conducted: observational and interventional. The retweet counts and favorite counts are associated with the sentiments and emotions, such as disgust, joy, sadness, surprise, trust, negative, and positive.

Conclusion

We need resources and further research in the area of long COVID-19.
School-based outdoor education and teacher subjective well-being: An exploratory study
Authors: Deschamps Antoine , Scrutton Roger , Ayotte-Beaudet Jean-Philippe
Published: December 2022

Can school-based outdoor education (OE) benefit teachers’ well-being? Multiple studies have reported the positive impact of OE on students’ well-being and the benefits of contact with nature for adults. However, a literature review revealed no research on the impact of OE on teachers’ well-being. This study explores the possible relationships between OE and preschool and primary school teachers’ subjective well-being (SWB) in Québec, Canada, during COVID-19. A survey measuring teacher SWB was conducted; 381 teachers responded, 164 practiced OE, and 217 did not. The questionnaire results indicated that teachers who practice OE have significantly higher SWB than their colleagues (d = 0.21 tod = 0.36). However, only a limited positive correlation was found between teacher SWB and the number of times teachers practice OE (rho = 0.184). This study suggests that school-based OE is positively related to teacher SWB and therefore has the potential to benefit teachers and students alike.
Thyroid autoimmunity and vitamin D: Effects on in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection laboratory outcomes
Authors: Liu Yalong , He Zining , Huang Ning , Zeng Lin , Meng Fangyin , Li Rong , Chi Hongbin
Published: December 2022

This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the effects of thyroid autoimmunity, serum/follicular fluid vitamin D levels, and vitamin D receptor expression in granulosa cells on laboratory outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The study included 206 women with or without thyroid autoimmunity undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection ovarian stimulation cycles. The primary outcomes in thyroid autoimmunity and non-thyroid autoimmunity patients with high or low follicular fluid vitamin D levels (high vitamin D level, ≥20 ng/mL; low vitamin D level, <20 ng/mL) were the number of oocytes retrieved and quality of embryos. The secondary outcomes were the association between serum and follicular fluid vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor expression in granulosa cells. Our study revealed that thyroid autoimmunity was associated with fewer good-quality embryos but not oocytes (p = 0.010). The vitamin D level in the follicular fluid was significantly correlated with that in the serum (p < 0.001, r > 0.5). The study populations in the thyroid autoimmunity and non-thyroid autoimmunity groups were divided into two subgroups based on high/low serum/follicular fluid vitamin D levels. There was no significant difference in the number of retrieved oocytes and good-quality embryos between the subgroups with high or low vitamin D levels (p > 0.05), and the incidence of thyroid autoimmunity was comparable between the subgroups (p > 0.05). Linear regression analysis indicated that thyroid autoimmunity had a negative effect on the number of healthy embryos (p = 0.038). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results indicated that vitamin D receptor expression in granulosa cells was positively correlated with follicular vitamin D levels in the thyroid autoimmunity (p = 0.0002) and non-thyroid autoimmunity (p < 0.0001) groups. The current findings suggest that thyroid autoimmunity may have a more detrimental effect on in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection laboratory outcomes than vitamin D.
The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in salinity adaptation in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Authors: Farhadi Ardavan , Liu Yan , Xu Chang , Wang Xiaodan , Li Erchao
Published: December 2022

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal system that plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis in mammals. In fishes, the RAS pathway participates in osmoregulation and salinity adaptation. However, the role of the RAS pathway in invertebrates, particularly in crustaceans, remains unknown. In this study, four key genes of the RAS pathway (LV-ACE, LV-APN, LV-AT1R, and LV-RR) were cloned, characterized, and their expression levels were detected in the eyestalk, hepatopancreas, and muscle of Litopenaeus vannamei during long-term and short-term low salinity stress. The results showed that LV-ACE, LV-APN, LV-AT1R, and LV-RR encode 666, 936, 175, and 323 amino acids, respectively. Low salinity stress downregulated the expression levels of LV-ACE, LV-APN, LV-AT1R, and LV-RR in L. vannamei, indicating that the RAS pathway was suppressed under low salinity. Moreover, these genes play important roles in the regulation of drinking rate, controlling urine output, blood glucose, and blood pressure, indicating that their downregulation probably affected the homeostasis of shrimps. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanism of salinity adaptation in L. vannamei.
Is the level of serum lactate dehydrogenase a potential biomarker for glucose monitoring with type 2 diabetes mellitus?
Authors: Hsieh Yu-Shan , Yeh Min-Chun , Lin Yan-Yu , Weng Shuen-Fu , Hsu Chung-Huei , Huang Chen-Ling , Lin Yu-Pei , Han A-Young
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder due to defects in insulin secretion or insulin resistance leading to the dysfunction and damage of various organs. To improve the clinical evaluation of short-term blood glycemic variability monitoring, it is critical to identify another blood cell status and nutritional status biomarker that is less susceptible to interference. This study identifies the significance of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level among T2DM patients treated in outpatient clinics and investigates the relationship of LDH level with other variables.

Methods

This study comprised 72 outpatients with T2DM over 20 years of age. Blood samples were collected followed by a hematological analysis of serum glycated albumin (GA), LDH, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, C-peptide, and insulin antibodies (insulin Ab).

Results

Serum LDH level was significantly correlated with GA (p < 0.001), C-peptide (p = 0.04), insulin Ab (p = 0.03), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (p = 0.04). Hence, we performed a linear regression analysis of hematological markers. GA (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.45) and insulin Ab (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.40) were significantly associated with LDH level. Then, we classified patients into low (<200 U/L) and high (≥200 U/L) serum LDH level groups, respectively. GA (p < 0.001), C-peptide (p = 0.001), and TSH (p = 0.03) showed significant differences in patients with high LDH levels compared with those in patients with low LDH levels.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we suggested that LDH level was independent of long-term but associated with short-term blood glucose monitoring. The results indicated that changes in serum GA induced cell damage and the abnormal elevation of the serum level of LDH may occur simultaneously with glycemic variability. It has been reported that many biomarkers are being used to observe glucose variability in T2DM. However, LDH could provide a more convenient and faster evaluation of glycemic variability in T2DM.
Residents manage dynamic plant communities: Change over time in urban vegetation
Authors: Wheeler Megan M. , Larson Kelli L. , Cook Elizabeth M. , Hall Sharon J.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Integrated social and ecological processes shape urban plant communities, but the temporal dynamics and potential for change in these managed communities have rarely been explored. In residential yards, which cover about 40% of urban land area, individuals make decisions that control vegetation outcomes. These decisions may lead to relatively static plant composition and structure, as residents seek to expend little effort to maintain stable landscapes. Alternatively, residents may actively modify plant communities to meet their preferences or address perceived problems, or they may passively allow them to change. In this research, we ask, how and to what extent does residential yard vegetation change over time?

Methods

We conducted co-located ecological surveys of yards (in 2008, 2018, and 2019) and social surveys of residents (in 2018) in four diverse neighborhoods of Phoenix, Arizona.

Results

94% of residents had made some changes to their front or back yards since moving in. On average, about 60% of woody vegetation per yard changed between 2008 and 2018, though the number of species present did not differ significantly. In comparison, about 30% of woody vegetation changed in native Sonoran Desert reference areas over 10 years. In yards, about 15% of woody vegetation changed on average in a single year, with up to 90% change in some yards. Greater turnover was observed for homes that were sold, indicating a “pulse” of management. Additionally, we observed greater vegetation turnover in the two older, lawn-dominated neighborhoods surveyed despite differences in neighborhood socioeconomic factors.

Discussion

These results indicate that residential plant communities are dynamic over time. Neighborhood age and other characteristics may be important drivers of change, while socioeconomic status neither promotes nor inhibits change at the neighborhood scale. Our findings highlight an opportunity for management interventions, wherein residents may be open to making conservation-friendly changes if they are already altering the composition of their yards.
Hikers’ pro-environmental behavior in national park: Integrating theory of planned behavior and norm activation theory
Authors: Sun Huazhen , Zhang Qing , Guo Weifeng , Lin Kaimiao
Published: December 2022

Hikers’ intention for pro-environmental behavior (PEB) directly affects the sustainable development of protected areas, but few studies have been conducted from the perspective of theoretical integration. This study explores the intention of hikers’ PEB from the perspective of individual hikers, based on the theory of planned behavior and norm activation theory. Researchers surveyed 456 hikers in Wuyishan National Park, and the data analysis method employed was structural equation modeling. The results demonstrate that the model integrating TPB and NAM was accepted of hikers’ PEB in national park, and for the hiker, internal demand was found to precede external stimulus for their behavior. The study sheds light on how to better comprehend and advocate for PEB in national parks.
Evaluation of dendritic cell-targeting T7 phages as a vehicle to deliver avian influenza virus H5 DNA vaccine in SPF chickens
Authors: Xu Hai , Li Ling , Li Ruiting , Guo Zijie , Lin Mengzhou , Lu Yu , Hou Jibo , Govinden Roshini , Deng Bihua , Chenia Hafizah Y.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

There is a growing demand for effective technologies for the delivery of antigen to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and their immune-activation for the success of DNA vaccines. Therefore, dendritic cell (DC)-targeting T7 phages were used as a vehicle to deliver DNA vaccine.

Methods

In this study, a eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-C1-HA2-AS containing the HA2 gene derived from the avian H5N1 virus and an anchor sequence (AS) gene required for the T7 phage packaging process was developed. To verify the feasibility of phage delivery, the plasmid encapsulated in DC-targeting phage capsid through the recognition of AS was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The pEGFP-C1-HA2-AS plasmid could evade digestion by DNase I by becoming encapsulated into the phage particles and efficiently expressed the HA2 antigen in DCs with the benefit of DC-targeting phages.

Results

For chickens immunized with the DC-targeting phage 74 delivered DNA vaccine, the levels of IgY and IgA antibodies, the concentration of IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokines in serum, the proliferation of lymphocytes, and the percentage of CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood were significantly higher than chickens which were immunized with DNA vaccine that was delivered by non-DC-targeting phage or placebo (p<0.05). Phage 74 delivered one-fiftieth the amount of pEGFP-C1-HA2-AS plasmid compared to Lipofectin, however, a comparable humoral and cellular immune response was achieved. Although, the HA2 DNA vaccine delivered by the DC-targeting phage induced enhanced immune responses, the protection rate of virus challenge was not evaluated.

Conclusion

This study provides a strategy for development of a novel avian influenza DNA vaccine and demonstrates the potential of DC-targeting phage as a DNA vaccine delivery vehicle.
Prognostic prediction and immune infiltration analysis based on ferroptosis and EMT state in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Zhaochen , Wang Jingju , Li Suxin , Li Luhao , Li Lin , Li Dingyang , Guo Huahu , Gao Dute , Liu Shengyan , Ruan Chengshuo , Dang Xiaowei
Published: December 2022

Background

Ferroptosis is one of the main mechanisms of sorafenib against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in the heterogeneity, tumor metastasis, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and drug resistance of HCC. However, there are few studies looking into the relationship between ferroptosis and EMT and how they may affect the prognosis of HCC collectively.

Methods

We downloaded gene expression and clinical data of HCC patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases for prognostic model construction and validation respectively. The Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was used for model construction. The predictive ability of the model was assessed by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We performed the expression profiles analysis to evaluate the ferroptosis and EMT state. CIBERSORT and single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) methods were used for immune infiltration analysis.

Results

A total of thirteen crucial genes were identified for ferroptosis-related and EMT-related prognostic model (FEPM) stratifying patients into two risk groups. The high-FEPM group had shorter overall survivals than the low-FEPM group (p<0.0001 in the TCGA cohort and p<0.05 in the ICGC cohort). The FEPM score was proved to be an independent prognostic risk factor (HR>1, p<0.01). Furthermore, the expression profiles analysis suggested that the high-FEPM group appeared to have a more suppressive ferroptosis status and a more active EMT status than the low- FEPM group. Immune infiltration analysis showed that the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were highly enriched in the high-FEPM group. Finally, a nomogram enrolling FEPM score and TNM stage was constructed showing outstanding predictive capacity for the prognosis of patients in the two cohorts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we developed a ferroptosis-related and EMT-related prognostic model, which could help predict overall survival for HCC patients. It might provide a new idea for predicting the response to targeted therapies and immunotherapies in HCC patients.
Targeting heat shock proteins 90 and 70: A promising remedy for both autoimmune bullous diseases and COVID-19
Authors: Kasperkiewicz Michael , Tukaj Stefan
Published: December 2022

Heat shock proteins (Hsps), including Hsp90 and Hsp70, are intra- and extracellular molecules implicated in cellular homeostasis and immune processes and are induced by cell stress such as inflammation and infection. Autoimmune bullous disorders (AIBDs) and COVID-19 represent potentially life-threatening inflammatory and infectious diseases, respectively. A significant portion of AIBDs remain refractory to currently available immunosuppressive therapies, which may represent a risk factor for COVID-19, and suffer from treatment side-effects. Despite advances in vaccination, there is still a need to develop new therapeutic approaches targeting SARS-CoV-2, especially considering vaccine hesitancy, logistical distribution challenges, and breakthrough infections. In this mini review, we briefly summarize the role of targeting Hsp90/70 as a promising double-edged sword in the therapy of AIBDs and COVID-19.
Phylogenetic, species richness and logistic influences on the biodiscovery process in Cnidaria
Authors: Johnson Mark P. , Baker Bill J. , Conneely Ellie-Ann , McKeever Kate , Young Ryan M. , Laguionie-Marchais Claire , Allcock A. Louise
Published: December 2022

The extent to which any particular taxon supplies novel natural products depends on biological and evolutionary differences, and on decisions made by (or constraints on) biodiscovery scientists. The influences of different sources of variability on the biodiscovery process were examined in a study of the Cnidaria, a group recognised as an important source of novel marine natural products. The number of species with at least one novel metabolite within a genus was related to the number of species in the genus. This pattern implies that different genera do not differ in the probability of containing a species with novel natural products. Outlying points of this relationship were consistent with the ease of obtaining material through culturing organisms. The most productive five species were the sources of over 100 novel metabolites each. The distribution of novel metabolites across species showed no signs of exhausting novelty for the most productive source species. Novel metabolite drug likeness (ADMET-score) varied among genera. However, this pattern of variation was of the same degree as observed for molecular weights of metabolites, suggesting that differences among genera are generated by the decisions of analysts with different interests and do not reflect underlying biology. Biogeographic patterns of soft coral species with novel natural products were matched to regional species richness. Overall, the evidence for phylogenetic or spatial influences on the chance of finding novel metabolites was weak. The patterns are consistent with a constant chance of finding novel natural products across different species, with some constraints linked to ease of sampling or culturing and some reinforcement of biodiscovery in species that have previously been the source of novel metabolites.
From morphological to ecological adaptation of the cornea in Oxudercinae fishes
Authors: Hu Wenxian , Mu Yuan , Wei Chuanyu , Gai Yulin , Zhang Jie
Published: December 2022

The outer cornea plays an important role in animal adaptation and survival in different environments. however, research on the morphological and ecological adaptation of corneal structure in amphibious fishes is limited. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the microstructure and adaptation of corneal epithelial cells in Oxudercinae. The results showed that the corneas of Oxudercinae species possess microridges, microvilli, and microplicae, as well as different numbers of epithelial cells. The morphological structure of corneal epithelial cells, observed by collecting samples and comparing the results with previous results, also showed different adaptive characteristics for moving between water and land. Further analyses revealed significant differences in epithelial cell density (F4, 22 = 5.436, P=0.003) and microridge width (F4, 22 = 8.392, P<0.001) among species with different levels of aquatic dependence. In addition, significant negative correlations of epithelial cell density with microridge width and separation width were confirmed (P<0.05). Interestingly, significant negative correlations of habitat type with cell density and microridges were uncovered, as well as a positive correlation between habitat type and separation width (P<0.05). The results indicated that the corneal structure of Oxudercinae species has characteristics of adaptation to an amphibious lifestyle.
Phycospheric bacterial community structure and function succession during the typical harmful macroalgal blooms
Authors: Qu Tongfei , Hou Chengzong , Guan Chen , Zhao Xinyu , Chen Jun , Zhong Yi , Xu Jinhui , Lin Zhihao , Xu Yu , Tang Xuexi , Wang Ying
Published: December 2022

Based on the diversity and importance of phycospheric microorganisms as well as their complex interaction with algae, their ecological correlation with algal bloom events has become a research topic of great interest that remains unclear in the natural dynamic process of harmful macroalgal blooms (HMBs). The world’s largest green tides caused by macroalgae Ulva prolifera have occurred in the Yellow Sea for 16 consecutive years, and seriously affected the coastal ecosystem. Here, we monitored the spatiotemporal dynamics of the phycospheric bacterial community during the U. prolifera green tide bloom. The 73-day continuous field survey covered the whole process of initial invasion until the extinction of the green tide. The phycospheric bacterial community has a higher richness than the control seawater bacteria; in addition, it has more enriched taxa with organic nutrition preference and environmental pressure adaption, such as Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Desulfobacterota. The same differences in populations and functional profiles were observed among the epiphytic bacterial and phycospheric seawater bacterial communities, which may be driven by the spatial heterogeneity of biogenic elements (e.g., organic nutrients and oxygen) among the habitats. Significant succession occurred in both the epiphytic bacterial and phycospheric seawater bacterial communities; their diversity and richness exhibited significant heterogeneity variation patterns, and their community structure became more similar in late phases. Our study revealed that macroalgal phycospheric microbial communities have a highly complex and dynamic composition and variable ecological functions, which indicate that phycospheric microorganisms are closely related to the fate of HMBs and may have the profound effect coastal biogeochemical cycles.
The evolving strategies for the management of patients with metastatic gastric cancer: A narrative review and expert opinion
Authors: Cascinu Stefano , Di Bartolomeo Maria , Lonardi Sara , Beretta Giordano , Fornaro Lorenzo , De Vita Ferdinando
Published: December 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) is recognized as one of the most common deadly malignancies worldwide and about 40–50% of patients present at diagnosis with an unresectable disease due to a locally advanced or already metastatic condition. Recently, therapeutic options for management of metastatic GC (mGC) have been approved allowing a potential improvement of patient cancer treatment response and also an establishment of a continuum of care for this aggressive disease. This report is the result of a literature review by an expert panel. The aim of this document is to provide evidence, wherever it is lacking, to provide expert opinion directed at strategic management of mGC, and in particular aspect at practical management where appropriate guidelines are not available. Treatment landscape with new therapeutic strategies for third line and beyond, role of imaging, prognostic factors, symptoms, and markers as well as the importance of multidisciplinary approach particularly the nutritional aspects are discussed.
Combined use of coenzyme Q10 and citicoline: A new possibility for patients with glaucoma
Authors: Martucci Alessio , Mancino Raffaele , Cesareo Massimo , Pinazo-Duran Maria Dolores , Nucci Carlo
Published: December 2022

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Several risk factors have been involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. By now, the main treatable risk factor is elevated intraocular pressure. Nevertheless, some patients, whose intraocular pressure is considered in the target level, still experience a progression of the disease. Glaucoma is a form of multifactorial ocular neurodegeneration with complex etiology, pathogenesis, and pathology. New evidence strongly suggests brain involvement in all aspects of this disease. This hypothesis and the need to prevent glaucomatous progression led to a growing interest in the pharmacological research of new neuroprotective, non-IOP-lowering, agents. The aim of this paper is to report evidence of the usefulness of Coenzyme Q10 and Citicoline, eventually combined, in the prevention of glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
Case report: Rare epithelioid hemangioendothelioma occurs in both main bronchus and lung
Authors: Gong Jiuyu , Tian Fangfang , Wang Qin , Mu Mi , Geng Sijia , Hao Pengfei , Zhong Pengfei , Zhang Rui , Jiang Lin , Wang Rentao , Bao Pengtao
Published: December 2022

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare vascular tumor of endothelial origin with low- to intermediate-grade malignant potentials. Since there is no characteristic clinical or biological marker available for PEH, most cases require a surgical lung biopsy for diagnosis. To date, although some patients with PEH reported in the literature were diagnosed through bronchoscopic biopsy, most of the patients still underwent surgical lung biopsy for confirmation. In this case report, we present a rare case diagnosed as PEH through endobronchial biopsies due to the presence of an intraluminal mass that blocked the trachea and caused atelectasis in the right upper lobe. Moreover, since surgery was not appropriate for this patient with unresectable bilateral multiple nodules, we adopted genetic analysis using NGS to provide a guide for personalized treatment. Then, based on the NGS results, the patient was treated with anti-PD-1 mAb and sirolimus for 1 year and has been stable in a 1-year follow-up examination.
Liver fibrosis prevalence and risk factors in patients with psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yongpisarn Tanat , Namasondhi Amornrut , Iamsumang Wimolsiri , Rattanakaemakorn Ploysyne , Suchonwanit Poonkiat
Published: December 2022

Background

Patients with psoriasis are more likely than matched controls in the general population to have advanced liver fibrosis; however, our understanding of these patients is limited. There is currently no systematic evaluation of the prevalence and risk factors of liver fibrosis in psoriasis patients.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of psoriasis patients who are at high or low risk for advanced liver fibrosis and determine the risk factors for developing liver fibrosis.

Methods

Electronic searches were conducted using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases from the dates of their inception till May 2022, using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Any observational study describing the prevalence and/or risk factors for liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis was included.

Results

Patients with psoriasis at high risk for advanced liver fibrosis had a pooled prevalence of 9.66% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.92–12.75%, I2 = 76.34%], whereas patients at low risk for advanced liver fibrosis had a pooled prevalence of 77.79% (95% CI: 73.23–82.05%, I2 = 85.72%). Studies that recruited methotrexate (MTX)-naïve patients found a lower prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis (4.44, 95% CI: 1.17–9.22%, I2 = 59.34%) than those that recruited MTX-user cohorts (12.25, 95% CI: 6.02–20.08%, I2 = 82.34%). Age, sex, BMI, PASI score, psoriasis duration, MTX cumulative dose, and the prevalence of obesity, MTX users, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome were not identified as sources of heterogeneity by meta-regression analysis. The pooled odds ratios for age >50 years, BMI > 30, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome were 2.20 (95% CI: 1.42–3.40, I2 = 0%), 3.67 (95% CI: 2.37–5.68, I2 = 48.8%), 6.23 (95% CI: 4.39–8.84, I2 = 42.4%), 2.82 (95% CI: 1.68–4.74, I2 = 0%), 3.08 (95% CI: 1.90–4.98, I2 = 0%), and 5.98 (95% CI: 3.63–9.83, I2 = 17%), respectively.

Conclusion

Approximately 10% of the population with psoriasis is at high risk for advanced liver fibrosis, while 78% are at low risk. Patients over the age of 50 with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or metabolic syndrome have an increased risk of developing liver fibrosis, necessitating monitoring.

Systematic review registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022303886], identifier [CRD42022303886].
Label-free relative quantitative proteomics reveals extracellular vesicles as a vehicle for Salmonella effector protein delivery
Authors: Wu Tao , Zhang Biao , Lu Juane , Huang Ailin , Wu Hao , Qiao Jianjun , Ruan Haihua
Published: December 2022

Extracellular vesicles are small vesicles with a diameter of 30–150 nm that are actively secreted by eukaryotic cells and play important roles in intercellular communication, immune responses, and tumorigenesis. Previous studies have shown that extracellular vesicles are involved in the process of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection. However, changes in the protein content of extracellular vesicles elicited by S. Typhimurium infection have not been determined. Here, we extracted the extracellular vesicles with high purity from S. Typhimurium-infected Henle-407 cells, a kind of human intestinal epithelial cells, by ultracentrifugation combined with an extracellular vesicles purification kit, and analyzed their protein composition using label-free relative quantitative proteomics. The extracted extracellular vesicles exhibited an oval vesicular structure under electron microscopy, with a mean diameter of 140.4 ± 32.4 nm. The exosomal marker proteins CD9, CD63, and HSP70 were specifically detected. Compared with the uninfected group, nearly 1,234 specifically loaded proteins were uncovered in S. Typhimurium-infected Henle-407 cells. Among them were 409 S. Typhimurium-derived specific proteins, indicating a significant alteration in protein composition of extracellular vesicles by S. Typhimurium infection. Notably, these proteins included 75 secretory proteins and over 300 non-secretory proteins of S. Typhimurium, implicating novel pathways for bacterial protein delivery, although it remains unclear if their loading into extracellular vesicles is active or passive. To investigate the roles of these extracellular proteins, we exemplified the function of SopB, a well-known T3SS effector protein, and showed that the extracellular SopB could be taken up by RAW264.7 macrophages, activating the phosphorylation of Akt. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of Salmonella infection through extracellular vesicles that transport virulence proteins to uninfected neighboring cells to facilitate further infection.
Associations between repetitive negative thinking and resting-state network segregation among healthy middle-aged adults
Authors: Solé-Padullés Cristina , Cattaneo Gabriele , Marchant Natalie L. , Cabello-Toscano María , Mulet-Pons Lídia , Solana Javier , Bargalló Núria , Tormos Josep M. , Pascual-Leone Álvaro , Bartrés-Faz David
Published: December 2022

Background

Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) includes negative thoughts about the future and past, and is a risk factor for depression and anxiety. Prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices have been linked to RNT but several regions within large-scale networks are also involved, the efficiency of which depends on their ability to remain segregated.

Methods

Associations between RNT and system segregation (SyS) of the Anterior Salience Network (ASN), Default Mode Network (DMN) and Executive Control Network (ECN) were explored in healthy middle-aged adults (N = 341), after undergoing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Regression analyses were conducted with RNT as outcome variable. Explanatory variables were: SyS, depression, emotional stability, cognitive complaints, age and sex.

Results

Analyses indicated that RNT was associated with depression, emotional stability, cognitive complaints, age and segregation of the left ECN (LECN) and ASN. Further, the ventral DMN (vDMN) presented higher connectivity with the ASN and decreased connectivity with the LECN, as a function of RNT.

Conclusion

Higher levels of perseverative thinking were related to increased segregation of the LECN and decreased segregation of the ASN. The dissociative connectivity of these networks with the vDMN may partially account for poorer cognitive control and increased self-referential processes characteristic of RNT.
Multi-scale and attention enhanced graph convolution network for skeleton-based violence action recognition
Authors: Yang Huaigang , Ren Ziliang , Yuan Huaqiang , Wei Wenhong , Zhang Qieshi , Zhang Zhaolong
Published: December 2022

Graph convolution networks (GCNs) have been widely used in the field of skeleton-based human action recognition. However, it is still difficult to improve recognition performance and reduce parameter complexity. In this paper, a novel multi-scale attention spatiotemporal GCN (MSA-STGCN) is proposed for human violence action recognition by learning spatiotemporal features from four different skeleton modality variants. Firstly, the original joint data are preprocessed to obtain joint position, bone vector, joint motion and bone motion datas as inputs of recognition framework. Then, a spatial multi-scale graph convolution network based on the attention mechanism is constructed to obtain the spatial features from joint nodes, while a temporal graph convolution network in the form of hybrid dilation convolution is designed to enlarge the receptive field of the feature map and capture multi-scale context information. Finally, the specific relationship in the different skeleton data is explored by fusing the information of multi-stream related to human joints and bones. To evaluate the performance of the proposed MSA-STGCN, a skeleton violence action dataset: Filtered NTU RGB+D was constructed based on NTU RGB+D120. We conducted experiments on constructed Filtered NTU RGB+D and Kinetics Skeleton 400 datasets to verify the performance of the proposed recognition framework. The proposed method achieves an accuracy of 95.3% on the Filtered NTU RGB+D with the parameters 1.21M, and an accuracy of 36.2% (Top-1) and 58.5% (Top-5) on the Kinetics Skeleton 400, respectively. The experimental results on these two skeleton datasets show that the proposed recognition framework can effectively recognize violence actions without adding parameters.
Protective effect of anakinra on audiovestibular function in a murine model of endolymphatic hydrops
Authors: Zhang Na , Li Na , Wang Siyue , Xu Wandi , Liu Jiahui , Lyu Yafeng , Li Xiaofei , Song Yongdong , Kong Ligang , Liu Yalan , Guo Jia , Fan Zhaomin , Zhang Daogong , Wang Haibo
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Ménière’s disease (MD), a common disease in the inner ear, is characterized by an increase in endolymph in the cochlear duct and vestibular labyrinth. The pathophysiology of the condition appears to be the immune response. Studies have shown that basal levels of the IL-1β increased in some MD patients.

Methods

Here, we used a murine model of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) to study the effect of anakinra on auditory and vestibular function. Mice were intraperitoneal injected with anakinra or saline before LPS by postauricular injection. Weight and disease severity were measured, histologic changes in auditory were assessed, and inflammation state was evaluated.

Results

We found that anakinra therapy reduced LPS-induced EH, alleviated LPS-induced hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction, and inhibited the expression of the inflammatory cytokines and macrophage infiltration in the cochlea of mice. We further demonstrated that anakinra ameliorated the disorganization and degeneration of myelin sheath, and reduced the neuron damage in cochlea of EH mice.

Discussion

Consequently, anakinra contributes to a promising therapeutic approach to MD, by restricting EH, alleviating auditory and vestibular function, inhibiting inflammation of the inner ear and protecting the cochlear nerve. Further investigations are needed to assess the potential therapeutic benefits of anakinra in patients with MD.
Study on dysphagia from 2012 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis via CiteSpace
Authors: Sun Weiming , Kang Xizhen , Zhao Na , Dong Xiangli , Li Shilin , Zhang Gaoning , Liu Guanxiu , Yang Yang , Zheng Chafeng , Yu Guohua , Shuai Lang , Feng Zhen
Published: December 2022

Objectives

This study aims to review the documents on dysphagia, summarize the research direction, analyze the research hot spots and frontiers, report the research trends, and provide new ideas for future development in the field via CiteSpace.

Methods

We retrieved articles on dysphagia published between 2012 and 2021 from the Web of Science Core Collection database. We downloaded the entire data and utilized CiteSpace version 5.8.R3 (64-bit) to analyze the number of publications annually, cited journals, countries, institutions, authors, cited authors, cited references, and keywords. We visualized the data with a knowledge map, collaborative network analysis, cluster analysis, and strongest citation burst analysis.

Results

We obtained 14,007 papers with a continually increasing trend over time. The most productive country and institute in this field were the United States (4,308) and Northwestern University (236), respectively. Dysphagia (5,062) and Laryngoscope (2,812) were the most productive journals, Elizabeth Ward had the highest number of publications (84), and Logeman et al.'s article (centrality: 0.02) was the most referenced. The most common keywords were dysphagia, management, quality of life, deglutition disorder, diagnosis, aspiration, prevalence, children, outcome, and oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Conclusion

This study analyzed the current literature on dysphagia via CiteSpace and identified its research hot spots and frontiers. The prevalent global trends in dysphagia research and the growing public awareness about healthcare and quality of life suggest that research on dysphagia will gain popularity with further breakthroughs.
Can aura migraine be elicited by isolated pulmonary arteriovenous fistula?—A case report
Authors: Onorato Eustaquio Maria , Salvia Josephal , Becchina Mariano , Cipolla Tommaso , Anzola Gian Paolo
Published: December 2022

A pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVM) is an abnormal blood vessel that creates a direct connection between a pulmonary artery and its tributary vein bypassing capillary filter, establishing as a consequence of a low-resistance right-to-left shunting (RLS). The vast majority of PAVMs are congenital appearing more often in females than in males. A great number of patients with PAVMs is suffering concurrently from hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) whose incidence is around 1 in 5,000. Very few cases of acquired PAVMs have been described in the literature. Paradoxical embolism through PAVMs can cause systemic desaturation, cyanosis, and serious cerebrovascular ischemic events (transient ischemic attacks, strokes, and intracranial abscess), even when the abnormal blood vessel is small (diameter <3 mm). Notably, it has been reported a high prevalence of aura migraine (MHA) symptoms in patients with PAVMs and concomitant HHT. We described in this study the case of a young aura migraineur female patient without HHT in whom isolated PAVM below the detection limit of pulmonary angiography and chest computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been documented by contrast Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography (cTTE/TEE) showing a delayed (>17 s) RLS coming from left pulmonary veins to left atrium while a patent foramen ovale (PFO), small atrial septal defects or septum primum fenestration could not be detected despite several attempts. Contrast Transcranial Doppler (cTCD) confirmed a delayed (>16 s) RLS with two short “shower” patterns corroborating the diagnosis of an extra-cardiac RLS. During the right heart catheterization and pulmonary angiography, it was impossible to cross the interatrial septum with a multipurpose catheter. The patient was finally discharged with off-label thienopyridine agents (clopidogrel 75 mg die) in terms of primary prophylaxis for paradoxical right-to-left embolization of thrombotic material ultimately. Aura migraine symptoms were nearly abolished by P2Y12 platelet inhibition, suggesting a platelet-based mechanism. During 2 years of clinical follow-up on thienopyridine therapy, the resolution of aura migraine episodes was definitively accomplished with significant improvement in her quality of life.