bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryptorchidism: The dog as a study model
Authors: Hernández-Jardón Norma , Rojas-Castañeda Julio César , Landero-Huerta Daniel , Reyes-Cruz Estefanía , Reynoso-Robles Rafael , Juárez-Mosqueda María del Lourdes , Medrano Alfredo , Reyes-Delgado Fausto , Vigueras-Villaseñor Rosa María
Published: September 2022

Cryptorchidism (CO) or undescended testicle is an abnormality of male gonadal development that can generate long-term repercussions in men, such as infertility and germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS). The origin of these alterations in humans is not completely clear, due to the absence of an animal model with similar testicular development as in humans with CO. This work intends to describe the testicular histological development of dogs with congenital CO, and determine whether the species could adequately serve as a study model for this pathology in humans. The study was carried out with 36 dogs, equally distributed in two groups: healthy control (CTRL) and CO groups. The contralateral testis to the undescended one in CO group of the animals was considered and analyzed. Each group was subdivided in three stages of development: (1) peripubertal stage (6–8 months), (2) young adult (9–48 months) and (3) senile (49–130 months). Histological development, the presence of cells with gonocyte morphology, cell proliferation, testicular lipoperoxidation and hormonal concentrations of testosterone, estradiol, FSH and LH were evaluated and described. In the cryptorchid testes, the first histological alterations appeared from the first stage of development and were maintained until the senile stage. A pronounced testicular lipoperoxidation occurred only in the second stage of development. The histological alterations due to CO were markedly evident in the young adult stage. Testosterone concentrations witnessed a decrease starting from in the second stage and kept on until the last stage. The contralateral testes of the CO animals showed alterations that positioned them between the control and CO testes. Testicular development of dogs with CO is similar to that of humans. The results of the study suggest that this species could serve as a suitable model for the study of CO in humans.
Accounting for Round-Off Errors When Using Gradient Minimization Methods
Authors: Lukyanenko Dmitry , Shinkarev Valentin , Yagola Anatoly
Published: September 2022

This paper discusses a method for taking into account rounding errors when constructing a stopping criterion for the iterative process in gradient minimization methods. The main aim of this work was to develop methods for improving the quality of the solutions for real applied minimization problems, which require significant amounts of calculations and, as a result, can be sensitive to the accumulation of rounding errors. However, this paper demonstrates that the developed approach can also be useful in solving computationally small problems. The main ideas of this work are demonstrated using one of the possible implementations of the conjugate gradient method for solving an overdetermined system of linear algebraic equations with a dense matrix.
Treatment of Bovine Leptospirosis with Enrofloxacin HCl 2H2O (Enro-C): A Clinical Trial
Authors: Bautista Jesús Mendoza , Aranda Estrada Melissa , Gutiérrez Olvera Lilia , Lopez Ordaz Reyes , Sumano López Héctor
Published: September 2022

Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics ratios of enrofloxacin HCl-2H2O (enro-C) in cows to treat bovine leptospirosis prompted this clinical trial in the highlands (HL) and the tropics (TL) in Mexico. In the HL, 111 Holstein-Friesian cows were included and 38 F1 Zebu–Holstein/Friesians in the TL. Affected cows were randomly divided into two treatment groups, both in the HL and TL. PCR and MAT tests were performed before and after treatment. Treatments in both groups were administered for 5 d with either IM injections of enro-C or streptomycin/penicillin-G. Reproductive performance data were gathered for 90 d. The cows treated with enro-C became PCR negative: 87.5% and 78.94% on day 5, 92.85% and 94.73% on day 28 (in the HL and TL, respectively). For streptomycin/penicillin-G, the same values were 65.45% and 70.90% on day 5, and 73.68% twice on day 28 in the HL and TL, respectively. In both groups and geographical settings, the MAT titers dropped on day 28 but remained above reference values usually considered negative. The gestation rates were: 86.53% and 79.06% and 88.88% and 87.5% for the HL and TL, either with enro-C or streptomycin/penicillin-G, respectively. This is the first report of successful treatment with a fluoroquinolone derivative in treating bovine leptospirosis with a high bacteriological cure rate.
Investigation of Sperm and Seminal Plasma Candidate MicroRNAs of Bulls with Differing Fertility and In Silico Prediction of miRNA-mRNA Interaction Network of Reproductive Function
Authors: Kasimanickam Vanmathy , Kumar Nishant , Kasimanickam Ramanathan
Published: September 2022

Recent advances in high-throughput in silico techniques portray experimental data as exemplified biological networks and help us understand the role of individual proteins, interactions, and their biological functions. The objective of this study was to identify differentially expressed (DE) sperm and seminal plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) in high- and low-fertile Holstein bulls (four bulls per group), integrate miRNAs to their target genes, and categorize the target genes based on biological process predictions. Out of 84 bovine-specific, prioritized miRNAs analyzed by RT-PCR, 30 were differentially expressed in high-fertile sperm and seminal plasma compared to low-fertile sperm and seminal plasma, respectively (p ≤ 0.05, fold regulation ≥ 5 magnitudes). The expression levels of DE-miRNAs in sperm and seminal plasma followed a similar pattern. Highly scored integrated genes of DE-miRNAs predicted various biological and molecular functions, cellular process, and pathways. Further, analysis of the categorized genes showed association with pathways regulating sperm structure and function, fertilization, and embryo and placental development. In conclusion, highly DE-miRNAs in bovine sperm and seminal plasma could be used as a tool for predicting reproductive functions. Since the identified miRNA-mRNA interactions were mostly based on predictions from public databases, the causal regulations of miRNA-mRNA and the underlying mechanisms require further functional characterization in future studies.
Early Locomotor Training in Tetraplegic Post-Surgical Dogs with Cervical Intervertebral Disc Disease
Authors: Gouveia Débora , Carvalho Carla , Cardoso Ana , Gamboa Óscar , Almeida António , Ferreira António , Martins Ângela
Published: September 2022

Locomotor training (LT) is task-specific repetitive training, with sensorimotor stimulation and intensive exercises that promote neuromuscular reorganization. This study aimed to observe if LT could be initiated safely in the first 3–15 days after surgery in tetraplegic C1–C5 IVDD—Hansen type I dogs. This prospective blinded clinical study was conducted at two rehabilitation centers in Portugal, with 114 grade 1 (MFS/OFS) dogs, divided by the presence of spinal hyperesthesia into the SHG (spinal hyperesthesia group) (n = 74) and the NSHG (non-spinal hyperesthesia group) (n = 40), evaluated in each time point for two weeks according to a neurorehabilitation checklist by three observers for inter-agreement relation. LT was safely applied with 62.3% of the OFS ≥ 11 within 15 days and of these, 32.4% achieved a OFS ≥ 13. There were no new cases of hyperesthesia in the NSHG and from the SHG all recovered. Comparing groups, a significant difference was observed in their ability to achieve ambulatory status (p < 0.001), between the presence of hyperesthesia and days until ambulation (p < 0.006) and in each time point (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.809). Early LT may be a safe treatment to be applied in the first 3 days on these dogs and spinal hyperesthesia should be important to the rehabilitation team. This study should be continued.
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Peanut Skin Proanthocyanidins on Growth Performance and Lipid Metabolism of the Juvenile American Eel (Anguilla rostrata)
Authors: Wang Yue , Chen Xue-Hao , Wu Xin-Yi , Cai Guo-He , Zhai Shao-Wei
Published: September 2022

As a functional feed additive, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract has received a lot of attention due to its biological activity in the health of aquatic animals, but its high cost limits the application of this feed additive in the diet of many fish species. It is thus urgent to develop a new resource of proanthocyanidin extract. We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with peanut skin proanthocyanidins (PSPc) on growth parameters and lipid metabolism of juvenile American eel (Anguilla rostrata). Four hundred and fifty juvenile eels were randomly divided into five groups fed diets with five PSPc supplementation levels. The trial lasted for 8 weeks. Dietary PSPc supplementation significantly improved weight gain and feed utilization, and the best growth performance was found in the group fed with 900 mg/kg PSPc. PSPc supplementation significantly affected the crude protein level of whole fish and serum lipid parameters, and the best lipid-lowering effect was found in the fish fed with 900 mg/kg PSPc. Dietary PSPc supplementation increased lipolytic enzyme activities and decrease lipid synthase levels in the liver. The lipid metabolites affected by 900 mg/kg PSPc in the liver were mainly upregulated phosphatidylethanolamine in autophagy, downregulated ceramides in sphingolipid metabolism, upregulated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, downregulated 2-lysophosphatidylcholine in glycerophospholipid metabolism, and upregulated phosphatidylcholine in linoleic acid metabolism. In conclusion, an appropriate level of PSPc might effectively improve growth performance and regulate the lipid metabolism of the juvenile American eel, and 900 mg/kg PSPc is recommended in the diet of this fish species.
Comparison of the Gut Microbiome between Atopic and Healthy Dogs—Preliminary Data
Authors: Rostaher Ana , Morsy Yasser , Favrot Claude , Unterer Stefan , Schnyder Manuela , Scharl Michael , Fischer Nina Maria
Published: September 2022

Human studies show that in addition to skin barrier and immune cell dysfunction, both the cutaneous and the gut microbiota can influence the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. There is currently no data on the gut-skin axis in allergic canines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the bacterial diversity and composition of the gut microbiome in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). Stool samples from adult beagle dogs (n = 3) with spontaneous AD and a healthy control group (n = 4) were collected at Days 0 and 30. After the first sampling, allergic dogs were orally dosed on a daily basis with oclacitinib for 30 days, and then re-sampled. Sequencing of the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform and the data were analyzed using QIIME2. The atopic dogs had a significantly lower gut microbiota alpha-diversity than healthy dogs (p = 0.033). In healthy dogs, a higher abundance of the families Lachnospiraceae (p = 0.0006), Anaerovoracaceae (p = 0.006) and Oscillospiraceae (p = 0.021) and genera Lachnospira (p = 0.022), Ruminococcustorques group (p = 0.0001), Fusobacterium (p = 0.022) and Fecalibacterium (p = 0.045) was seen, when compared to allergic dogs. The abundance of Conchiformibius (p = 0.01), Catenibacterium spp. (p = 0.007), Ruminococcus gnavus group (p = 0.0574) and Megamonas (p = 0.0102) were higher in allergic dogs. The differences in alpha-diversity and on the compositional level remained the same after 1 month, adding to the robustness of the data. Additionally, we could also show that a 4-week treatment course with oclacitinib was not associated with changes in the gut microbiota diversity and composition in atopic dogs. This study suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota diversity and composition may be associated with canine AD. Large-scale studies preferably associated to a multi-omics approach and interventions targeting the gut microbiota are needed to confirm these results.
What Happens in Male Dogs after Treatment with a 4.7 mg Deslorelin Implant? I. Flare up and Downregulation
Authors: Stempel Sabrina , Körber Hanna , Reifarth Larena , Schuler Gerhard , Goericke-Pesch Sandra
Published: September 2022

Although registered since 2007, knowledge about changes in testosterone concentrations (T), testicular and prostatic volumes (TV, PV) and semen quality, as well as the time point of infertility following treatment with a 4.7 mg deslorelin (DES) slow-release implant, is limited. Therefore, seven sexually mature male dogs were treated with DES (TG); three male dogs treated with saline served as controls (CG). The study assessed local tolerance, TV, PV, semen parameters and T subsequent to GnRH/hCG stimulation in regular intervals. Local tolerance was good. In TG, T was increased right after treatment, but decreased four hours afterwards. Subsequently, TV, PV, semen quality and T decreased over time in TG, but not CG. T was basal (≤0.1 ng/mL) from D28 onwards. Response to GnRH/hCG stimulation was variable, with two TG dogs having increased T post-stimulation on all study days independent of pre-treatment concentrations. A(zoo)spermia in TG was observed from D35–D77 in all seven dogs. Whereas treatment was still effective in six TG dogs five months after implant insertion, it was fully reversed in one dog in terms of T and spermatozoa on the last examination. These results indicate high variation in individual dogs, necessary to consider when advising dog owners.
PRAMEY: A Bovid-Specific Y-Chromosome Multicopy Gene Is Highly Related to Postnatal Testicular Growth in Hu Sheep
Authors: Pei Shengwei , Qin Fang , Wang Li , Li Wanhong , Li Fadi , Yue Xiangpeng
Published: September 2022

PRAMEY (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma, Y-linked) belongs to the cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) gene family and is predominantly expressed in testis, playing important roles in spermatogenesis and testicular development. This study cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of ovine PRAMEY using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method and analyzed the expression profile and copy number variation (CNV) of PRAMEY using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The results revealed that the PRAMEY cDNA was 2099 bp in length with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1536 bp encoding 511 amino acids. PRAMEY was predominantly expressed in the testis and significantly upregulated during postnatal testicular development. The median copy number (MCN) of PRAMEY was 4, varying from 2 to 25 in 710 rams across eight sheep breeds. There was no significant correlation between the CNV of PRAMEY and testicular size, while a significant positive correlation was observed between the mRNA expression and testicular size in Hu sheep. The current study suggests that the expression levels of PRAMEY were closely associated with testicular size, indicating that PRAMEY may play an important role in testicular growth.
Mitochondria Dysfunction and Cell Apoptosis Limit Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to Lethal Cold Stress
Authors: Liu Ran , Liu Renyan , Song Guili , Li Qing , Cui Zongbin , Long Yong
Published: September 2022

Inability of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to withstand cold stress represents a major economic concern, which restricts the culture area, limits the growing period and even results in mass mortality in cold seasons. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms determining cold susceptibility of Nile tilapia remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the ability of juvenile Nile tilapia to survive lethal cold stress (12 °C) and the median survival time (LT50) of the experimental fish under exposure to 12 °C cold stress was estimated as 3.14 d. After being exposed to 12 °C for 3 d, the survivors that lost equilibrium (LE) and those that swam normally (NO) were regarded as cold-sensitive and cold-tolerant, respectively. The untreated (Ctrl), NO and LE fish were subjected to histological, biochemical and gene expression analyses to explore the cellular and molecular events underlying cold susceptibility of Nile tilapia. Exposure of Nile tilapia to lethal cold stress caused systemic tissue structure changes, mitochondrial swelling and dysfunction, induction of apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes and cell apoptosis. The extent of these adverse cellular and molecular events determines an individual’s ability to survive cold stress. Our data indicate that mitochondria dysfunction and mitochondria-mediated cell apoptosis are the main factors limiting Nile tilapia’s cold resistance.
Design of Remote Upgrade System for Data Processing Unit in Marine Engine Room Simulator
Authors: Zeng Hong , Liu Hui , Zhang Jundong , Sun Minglu , Wang Tianjian
Published: September 2022

With the development of ship intelligence, the frequency of upgrading the marine engine room simulator, which is essential for crew training, has increased. Traditionally, the data processing unit (DPU) of the marine engine room simulator is upgraded by manually downloading the firmware. This makes the hardware maintenance high-cost. In this paper, we first propose a WAN-based firmware upgrade system to enable secure over-the-air upgrades of DPUs and reduce operation and maintenance costs. A distributed hardware structure is given to manage DPU in the simulator via the Internet. We have designed two methods of firmware upgrades, automatic upgrades and remote upgrades. In automatic upgrades, the DPU can download new firmware upgrades from the web server through the router. By designing a series of mechanisms including code rollback, code backup and code confirmation, the In-Application Programming (IAP) technique is realized through the Internet. Firmware upgrades have good fault tolerance mechanisms to ensure that the emulator can still work in the event of an upgrade error. In remote upgrades, we upgrade the DPU firmware through the remote control center. We assessed the performance of the system by measuring the success rate of DPU upgrades, upgrade time and performance after the upgrade. The results show that the DPU upgrade success rate is close to 100% and performance is as good as expected. The results show that the remote firmware upgrade system proposed in this paper is reliable and practical.
Acute Effects of 160-Degree V-Shape Whole-Body Periodic Acceleration (WBPA) on Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Hemodynamics
Authors: Wong James K. S. , Wu Cheng-Ju , Lin Yi-Yuan , Lee Shin-Da
Published: September 2022

Whole-Body Periodic Acceleration (WBPA) has been reported to induce endothelial nitric oxide and cause vasodilation. However, the effects of WBPA on blood pressure and cardiovascular hemodynamics are still unclear and controversial. The objective of this study was to determine whether a single session of 160-degree V-shape Whole-Body Periodic Acceleration (WBPA-V-160), i.e., periodic motion of the supine body headward to footward, improved blood pressure and cardiovascular parameters. A pre-evaluation and post-evaluation of blood pressure and cardiovascular hemodynamics via DynaPulse Noninvasive and Quantitative Hemodynamic Profile Analysis were performed after a single 30 min trial of WBPA-V-160 with a moving distance, headward to footward, of 2 mm, at a constant frequency of 4 Hz. Systolic BP, diastolic BP, heart rate, end systolic pressure, end diastolic pressure, mean arterial BP, and pulse pressure at post-evaluation were significantly lower than at pre-evaluation after WBPA-V-160, whereas systemic vascular compliance and brachial artery distensibility at post-evaluation were significantly higher than at pre-evaluation. The WBPA-V-160, performed for 30 min, did improve blood pressure and cardiovascular hemodynamics by lowing the BP parameters and enhancing systemic vascular compliance.
Optimization of Aquifer Monitoring through Time-Lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography Integrated with Machine-Learning and Predictive Algorithms
Authors: Giampaolo Valeria , Dell’Aversana Paolo , Capozzoli Luigi , De Martino Gregory , Rizzo Enzo
Published: September 2022

In this paper, an integrated workflow aimed at optimizing aquifer monitoring and management through time-lapse Electric Resistivity Tomography (TL-ERT) combined with a suite of predictive algorithms is discussed. First, the theoretical background of this approach is described. Then, the proposed approach is applied to real geoelectric datasets recorded through experiments at different spatial and temporal scales. These include a sequence of cross-hole resistivity surveys aimed at monitoring a tracer diffusion in a real aquifer as well as in a laboratory experimental set. Multiple predictive methods were applied to both datasets, including Vector Autoregressive (VAR) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) algorithms, over the entire sequence of ERT monitor surveys. In both field and lab experiments, the goal was to retrieve a determined number of “predicted” pseudo sections of apparent resistivity values. By inverting both real and predicted datasets, it is possible to define a dynamic model of time-space evolution of the water plume contaminated by a tracer injected into the aquifer system(s). This approach allowed for describing the complex fluid displacement over time conditioned by the hydraulic properties of the aquifer itself.
Mineralogical, Geochemical Characterization and Physicochemical Properties of Kaolinitic Clays of the Eastern Part of the Douala Sub-Basin, Cameroon, Central Africa
Authors: Oumar Kankao Oumla , Gilbert François Ngon Ngon , Bertrand Mbog Michel , Nathanael Tehna , Constantin Bayiga Elie , Simon Mbaï Joel , Jacques Etame
Published: September 2022

The sedimentary clays of the Douala sub-basin (Cameroon) were studied to determine their mineralogical composition and physicochemical properties to boost their potential suitability as materials for traditional ceramics and eventually modern ceramics. These clayey materials are not widely used locally as building materials and little data are available on these materials in the field of ceramics and they are relatively unknown. Three profiles from 3.9 to 7.4 m thickness were studied on the field in order to determine their mineralogical (X-ray diffraction, infrared), chemical (X-ray fluorescence) and physicochemical (particle size, Atterberg limits, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and hydrogen potential) properties. Globally, ten (10) clay samples were analyzed to highlight the nature and technological properties of these clays. Mineralogically, kaolinite (48.3–69.2 wt.%) and quartz (20.5–41.2 wt.%) were the most abundant minerals in these raw clay materials. They were associated with a very small or moderate quantity of illite, hematite, goethite, feldspar, gibbsite and micas. Geochemically, the clayey materials had high silica (SiO2, 22.21–58.03%) and alumina (Al2O3, 12.84–22.94%) contents, with a significant amount of iron oxides (Fe2O3, 1.07–17.92%). Other oxides (K2O, MgO, TiO2, Na2O, MnO, CaO and P2O5) were in a relatively lower proportion. A high level of alumina content explains the kaolinitic nature of these clayey materials. The results of the granulometric analysis of the clayey materials showed the following distribution: clay (26–99%) followed by silt (1–70%) and sand (0–4%). This corresponds to silty clay soils according to the Belgian textural classification diagram, with high plastic index (63.9%) characteristics. The studied clay materials are good candidates for the production of ceramics and terracotta building. This study is therefore important for any application of this type of clay in various industrial fields.
High Resolution Future Projections of Drought Characteristics in Greece Based on SPI and SPEI Indices
Authors: Politi Nadia , Vlachogiannis Diamando , Sfetsos Athanasios , Nastos Panagiotis T. , Dalezios Nicolas R.
Published: September 2022

Future changes in drought characteristics in Greece were investigated using dynamically downscaled high-resolution simulations of 5 km. The Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations were driven by EC-EARTH output for historical and future periods, under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5. For the drought analysis, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were calculated. This work contributed to achieve an improved characterization of the expected high-resolution changes of drought in Greece. Overall, the results indicate that Greece will face severe drought conditions in the upcoming years, particularly under RCP8.5, up to 8/5 y of severity change signal. The results of 6-month timescale indices suggest that more severe and prolonged drought events are expected with an increase of 4 months/5 y, particularly in areas of central and eastern part of the country in near future, and areas of the western parts in far future. The indices obtained in a 12-month timescale for the period 2075–2099 and under RCP8.5 have shown an increase in the mean duration of drought events along the entire country. Drought conditions will be more severe in lowland areas of agricultural interest (e.g., Thessaly and Crete).
Cross-Inventory Uncertainty Analysis of Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions for Prefecture-Level Cities in Shandong Province
Authors: Tao Mengchu , Cai Zhaonan , Che Ke , Liu Yi , Yang Dongxu , Wu Lin , Wang Pucai , Yang Mingzhu
Published: September 2022

A series of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission inventories with high spatial resolutions covering China have been developed in the last decade, making it possible to assess not only the anthropogenic emissions of large administrational units (countries; provinces) but also those of small administrational units (cities; counties). In this study, we investigate three open-source gridded CO2 emission inventories (EDGAR; MEIC; PKU-CO2) and two statistical data-based inventories (CHRED; CEADs) covering the period of 2000–2020 for 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong province in order to quantify the cross-inventory uncertainty and to discuss potential reasons for it. Despite ±20% differences in aggregated provincial emissions, all inventories agree that the emissions from Shandong increased by ~10% per year before 2012 and that the increasing trend slowed down after 2012, with a quasi-stationary industrial emission proportion being observed during 2008–2014. The cross-inventory discrepancies increased remarkably when downscaled to the city level. The relative differences between two individual inventories for half of the cities exceeded 100%. Despite close estimations of aggregated provincial emissions, the MEIC provides relatively high estimates for cities with complex and dynamic industrial systems, while the CHRED tends to provide high estimates for heavily industrial cities. The CHRED and MEIC show reasonable agreement regarding the evolution of city-level emissions and the city-level industrial emission ratios over 2005–2020. The PKU-CO2 and EDGAR failed to capture the emissions and their structural changes at the city level, which is related to their point-source database stopping updates after 2012. Our results suggest that cross-inventory differences for city-level emissions exist not only in their aggregated emissions but also in their changes over time.
Two Decades of Satellite Observations of Carbon Monoxide Confirm the Increase in Northern Hemispheric Wildfires
Authors: Yurganov Leonid , Rakitin Vadim
Published: September 2022

Biomass burning is an important and changing component of global and hemispheric carbon cycles. Boreal forest fires in Russia and Canada are significant sources of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The influence of carbon monoxide (CO) on the greenhouse effect is practically absent; its main absorption bands of 4.6 and 2.3 μm are far away from the climatically important spectral regions. Meanwhile, CO concentrations in fire plumes are closely related to CO2 and CH4 emissions from fires. On the other hand, satellite measurements of CO are much simpler than those of the aforementioned gases. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) operating in the Thermal IR spectral region has provided a satellite-based CO data set since October 2002. This satellite data allow to estimate CO emissions from biomass burning north of 30° N using a simple two-box mass-balance model. These results correlate closely with independently estimated CO emissions from the GFED4c bottom-up database. In 2021, both estimate record high emissions throughout the preceding two decades, double the annual emissions compared to previous periods. There have been two years with extremely high emissions (2003 and 2021) but for the rest of the data, an upward trend with a rate of 3.6 ± 2.2 Tg CO yr−2 (4.8 ± 2.7% yr−1) was found. A similar rate of CO emissions can be seen in the GFED4c data.
Immunomodulation, Toxicity, and Therapeutic Potential of Nanoparticles
Authors: Pandey Ashutosh , Mishra Abhinava K.
Published: September 2022

Altered immune responses associated with human disease conditions, such as inflammatory and infectious diseases, cancers, and autoimmune diseases, are among the primary causes of morbidity across the world. A wealth of studies has demonstrated the efficiency of nanoparticles (NPs)-based immunotherapy strategies in different laboratory model systems. Nanoscale dimensions (<100 nm) enable NPs to have increased surface area to volume ratio, surface charge, and reactivity. Physicochemical properties along with the shapes, sizes, and elasticity influence the immunomodulatory response induced by NPs. In recent years, NPs-based immunotherapy strategies have attained significant focus in the context of cancers and autoimmune diseases. This rapidly growing field of nanomedicine has already introduced ~50 nanotherapeutics in clinical practices. Parallel to wide industrial applications of NPs, studies have raised concerns about their potential threat to the environment and human health. In past decades, a wealth of in vivo and in vitro studies has demonstrated the immunotoxicity potential of various NPs. Given that the number of engineered/designed NPs in biomedical applications is continuing to increase, it is pertinent to establish the toxicity profile for their safe and intelligent use in biomedical applications. The review is intended to summarize the NPs-induced immunomodulation pertaining to toxicity and therapeutic development in human health.
Usefulness of a Mobile Application (Mentali) for Anxiety and Depression Screening in Medical Students and Description of the Associated Triggering Factors
Authors: Martinez-Fierro Margarita L. , Ayala-Haro Anayantzin E. , Pinedo-Hurtado Martha E. , Solis-Galvan Jorge A. , Garza-Veloz Idalia , Velazquez-Lopez Zihomara Y. , Camacho-Martinez Antonio G. , Avila-Carrasco Lorena , Vazquez-Reyes Sodel , Velasco-Elizondo Perla , Mauricio-Gonzalez Alejandro , Ortiz-Castro Yolanda
Published: September 2022

The impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on the mental health of the population requires the implementation of new primary screening strategies of mental health disorders to intervene in a timelier manner, and technology may provide solutions. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the mobile app Mentali (version 1.1.2; creators: Jorge Alfonso Solís Galván Sodel Vázquez Reyes, Margarita de la Luz Martínez Fierro, Perla Velasco Elizondo, Idalia Garza Veloz, Alejandro Mauricio González and Claudia Caldera Villalobos, Zacatecas, México) as a primary screening tool for anxiety and depression disorders in medical students and to assess the triggering risk factors. This was a descriptive and longitudinal study and included 155 Mexican medical students. Participants interacted with Mentali for 6 months. The mobile app integrated the Beck anxiety and depression inventories together with a mood module. At the end of the interaction, the students received psychological and psychiatric interventions to confirm their primary diagnoses. Symptoms of moderate/severe anxiety and depression were present in 62.6% and 54.6% of the studied population. When corroborating the diagnoses, Mentali obtained a sensitivity of 100%, 95%, and 43% to classify a mental health disorder, anxiety, and depression, respectively. The most important triggers found were as follows: belonging to a dysfunctional family, being introverted, and having suffered from bullying. The proportion of users with excellent/good mood decreased from 78.7% to 34.4% at the end of the semester, and the proportion of users who claimed to have bad/very bad mood increased from 7.4% to 34.4% at the end of the semester (p < 0.05). Mentali was useful for identifying users with anxiety and/or depression, and as an auxiliary tool to coordinate the provision of specialized interventions, allowing us to increase the proportion of patients who needed psychological care and received it by 30%. The efficacy of Mentali in identifying activities through time with an impact on the mood and mental health of the users was confirmed. Our results support the use of Mentali for the primary screening of mental health disorders in young adults, including medical students.
Individualized Approach in the Surgical Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results from a Greek Multicentre Study
Authors: Glantzounis Georgios K. , Korkolis Dimitrios , Sotiropoulos Georgios C. , Tzimas Georgios , Karampa Anastasia , Paliouras Athanasios , Asimakopoulos Alexandros-Georgios , Davakis Spyridon , Papalampros Alexandros , Moris Dimitrios , Felekouras Evangelos
Published: September 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of death worldwide. The management of HCC is complex, with surgical treatment providing long-term survival in eligible patients. This study aims to present the experience of aggressive surgical management of HCC in Greece. Methods: This is a retrospective multicentre clinical study with 242 patients. Results: Most patients were male (79%) and had a median age of 71 yrs. According to the most recent BCLC criteria, 172 patients (71.1%) were classified as BCLC 0-A stage, 33 patients (13.6%) were classified as BCLC B, and 37 (15.3%) were classified as BCLC C. A total of 54% of the patients underwent major hepatectomy. Major postoperative morbidity was 15.6%, and the 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 4.5%. The median follow-up was 33.5 months. Three- and five-year overall survival was 65% and 48%, respectively. The median overall survival was 55 months. Significantly, five-year survival was 55% for BCLC A, and 34% and 21% for BCLC B and C, respectively. In univariate analysis, cirrhosis, type of resection (R status), and BCLC stage were associated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that R1 and R2 resections compared to R0, and BCLC C compared to BCLC 0-A, were independently associated with increased mortality. Conclusions: Aggressive surgical treatment of HCC offers satisfactory long-term survival prospects. A significant percentage (29%) of HCCs that underwent liver resection were of the intermediate and advanced BCLC stage. The management of patients with HCC should be discussed in multidisciplinary tumour board meetings on a case-by-case basis to be more effective.
Clinical Effectiveness of Faecal Immunochemical Test in the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer—An Umbrella Review
Authors: Świtalski Jakub , Tatara Tomasz , Wnuk Katarzyna , Miazga Wojciech , Karauda Dagmara , Matera Adrian , Jabłońska Magdalena , Jopek Sylwia , Religioni Urszula , Gujski Mariusz
Published: September 2022

Introduction: The colorectal cancer prognosis depends on the stage of the neoplasm; therefore, its early detection plays an important role. The aim of the study is evaluation of the sensitivity, specificity, and clinical effectiveness of the faecal immunochemical test in the early colorectal cancer detection. Methods: The clinical analysis was based on the results of the studies included in a systematic review conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. The following medical information sources were searched: Medline (via PubMed), Embase (via Ovid), The Cochrane Library. Results: From 241 citations, 13 studies were included in this review. All included studies had a low risk of bias. The faecal immunochemical test is highly specific in all analysed populations ranging from 85% to 97%. In most of the found studies, sensitivity is over 75%. The faecal immunochemical test screening also determines a reduction in death (10–59%) due to colorectal cancer. Conclusions: The faecal immunochemical test is an effective and cost-effective method of conducting population-wide colorectal cancer screening. It is an alternative or complementary to other screening tests, including colonoscopy.
Correction: Sun et al. Generation of the Chondroprotective Proteomes by Activating PI3K and TNFα Signaling. Cancers 2022, 14, 3039
Authors: Sun Xun , Li Ke-Xin , Figueiredo Marxa L. , Lin Chien-Chi , Li Bai-Yan , Yokota Hiroki
Published: September 2022

In the original article [...]
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: The Origin, Biological Characteristics and Role in Cancer—A Glance on Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Fotsitzoudis Charalampos , Koulouridi Asimina , Messaritakis Ippokratis , Konstantinidis Theocharis , Gouvas Nikolaos , Tsiaoussis John , Souglakos John
Published: September 2022

The therapeutic approaches to cancer remain a considerable target for all scientists around the world. Although new cancer treatments are an everyday phenomenon, cancer still remains one of the leading mortality causes. Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains in this category, although patients with CRC may have better survival compared with other malignancies. Not only the tumor but also its environment, what we call the tumor microenvironment (TME), seem to contribute to cancer progression and resistance to therapy. TME consists of different molecules and cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts are a major component. They arise from normal fibroblasts and other normal cells through various pathways. Their role seems to contribute to cancer promotion, participating in tumorigenesis, proliferation, growth, invasion, metastasis and resistance to treatment. Different markers, such as a-SMA, FAP, PDGFR-β, periostin, have been used for the detection of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Their detection is important for two main reasons; research has shown that their existence is correlated with prognosis, and they are already under evaluation as a possible target for treatment. However, extensive research is warranted.
NCAPG2 Maintains Cancer Stemness and Promotes Erlotinib Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Jiang Shiyao , Huang Jingjing , He Hua , Liu Yueying , Liang Lu , Sun Xiaoyan , Li Yi , Cong Li , Qing Bei , Jiang Yiqun
Published: September 2022

Erlotinib is a highly specific and reversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), but resistance inevitably develops as the disease progresses. Erlotinib resistance and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are poor factors hindering the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Although studies have shown that erlotinib resistance and CSCs can jointly promote cancer development, the mechanism is currently unclear. Here, we investigated the potential biomarker and molecular mechanism of erlotinib resistance and cancer stemness in LUAD. An erlotinib resistance model based on four genes was constructed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the GEO database, the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC). Through multiple bioinformatic analyses, NCAPG2 was identified as a key gene for erlotinib resistance and stemness in LUAD. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated that NCAPG2 maintains stemness and contributes to erlotinib resistance in LUAD. In summary, NCAPG2 plays a vital role in stemness and erlotinib resistance in LUAD.
Farnesoid X Receptor Overexpression Decreases the Migration, Invasion and Angiogenesis of Human Bladder Cancers via AMPK Activation and Cholesterol Biosynthesis Inhibition
Authors: Lai Chien-Rui , Tsai Yu-Ling , Tsai Wen-Chiuan , Chen Tzu-Min , Chang Hsin-Han , Changchien Chih-Ying , Wu Sheng-Tang , Wang Hisao-Hsien , Chen Ying , Lin Yu-Huei
Published: September 2022

Bladder cancer is one of the most prevailing cancers worldwide. Although treatments for urothelial carcinoma have improved, the rate of recurrence observed in the clinic is still high. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cholesterol biosynthesis is involved in the effect of Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) on bladder cancers. FXR overexpression contributed to activation of 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and decreased cholesterol levels. FXR overexpression reduced cholesterol biosynthesis and secretion by downregulating Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 (SREBP2) and 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase (HMGCR) expression. In addition, an AMPK inhibitor, dorsomorphin, reversed the inhibition of migration, invasion and angiogenesis by FXR overexpression. In a metastatic xenograft animal study, FXR overexpression suppressed bladder cancer lung metastasis by decreasing matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), SREBP2 and HMGCR expression. Moreover, FXR overexpression combined with atorvastatin treatment further enhanced the downregulation of the migratory, adhesive, invasive and angiogenic properties in human urothelial carcinoma. In clinical observations, statin administration was associated with better survival rates of early-stage bladder cancer patients. Our results may provide guidance for improving therapeutic strategies for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma.
Cachexia Index as a Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Gong Can , Wan Qianyi , Zhao Rui , Zuo Xinrong , Chen Yi , Li Tao
Published: September 2022

The current diagnostic criteria for cancer cachexia are inconsistent, and the prognostic value of cachexia in gastric cancer (GC) is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the cachexia index (CXI) in patients with GC. We calculated the CXI as skeletal muscle index (SMI) × serum albumin/neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and a total of 161 and 163 patients were included in the high and low CXI groups, respectively. Low CXI was significantly associated with a more advanced tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage, a higher level of serum C-reactive protein, serum interleukin-6, and NLR, but also a decreased level of serum prealbumin and albumin. In addition, patients in the low CXI group were more likely to have postoperative pulmonary infections (9.8% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.03). Cox proportional analyses indicated that patients with low CXI (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.69; p < 0.001) or TNM stage III+IV (HR 4.38, 95% CI 2.54 to 7.55; p < 0.001) had a significantly poorer overall survival (OS). Kaplan–Meier survival curves suggested that patients with low CXI had a significantly decreased OS, which was not affected by subgroup analyses of different sex, age, cachexia, body mass index (BMI), and TNM stage. Furthermore, low CXI combined with cachexia, low BMI, or TNM stage III+IV caused the worst OS in each subgroup analysis, respectively. Our study demonstrated that CXI had a good prognostic value in GC. Greater attention should be paid to patients with low CXI, particularly those combined with cachexia, low BMI, or TNM stage III+IV.
Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Comprehensive Review on Nutritional Approaches
Authors: Muscogiuri Giovanna , Barrea Luigi , Cantone Maria Celeste , Guarnotta Valentina , Mazzilli Rossella , Verde Ludovica , Vetrani Claudia , Colao Annamaria , Faggiano Antongiulio
Published: September 2022

Neuroendocrine neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with increasing incidence, high prevalence, and survival worldwide. About 90% of cases are well differentiated forms, the so-called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), with slow proliferation rates and prolonged survival but frequent development of liver metastases and endocrine syndromes. Both the tumor itself and systemic therapy may have an impact on patient nutrition. Malnutrition has a negative impact on outcome in patients with NETs, as well as obesity. In addition, obesity and metabolic syndrome have been shown to be risk factors for both the development and prognosis of NET. Therefore, dietary assessment based on body composition and lifestyle modifications should be an integral part of the treatment of NET patients. Nutrition plans, properly formulated by a dietician, are an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team for patients with NETs because they allow an improvement in quality of life, providing a tailored approach based on nutritional needs and nutritional manageable signs and/or symptoms related to pharmacological treatment. The aim of this review is to condense the latest evidence on the role of the most used dietary models, the Mediterranean diet, the ketogenic diet, and intermittent fasting, in the context of NETs, while considering the clinical and molecular mechanisms by which these dietary models act.
Characterization of RARRES1 Expression on Circulating Tumor Cells as Unfavorable Prognostic Marker in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Nitschke Christine , Markmann Benedikt , Tölle Marie , Kropidlowski Jolanthe , Belloum Yassine , Goetz Mara R. , Schlüter Hartmut , Kwiatkowski Marcel , Sinn Marianne , Izbicki Jakob , Pantel Klaus , Güngör Cenap , Uzunoglu Faik G. , Wikman Harriet
Published: September 2022

Background: In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) opens new insights into cancer metastasis as the leading cause of cancer-related death. Here, we focused on the expression of retinoic acid receptor responder 1 (RARRES1) on CTCs as a novel marker for treatment failure and early relapse. Methods: The stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)—approach was applied for identifying and quantifying new biomarker proteins in PDAC cell lines HPDE and its chemoresistant counterpart, L3.6pl-Res. Fifty-five baseline and 36 follow-up (FUP) peripheral blood samples were processed via a marker-independent microfluidic-based CTC detection approach using RARRES1 as an additional marker. Results: SILAC-based proteomics identified RARRES1 as an abundantly expressed protein in more aggressive chemoresistant PDAC cells. At baseline, CTCs were detected in 25.5% of all PDAC patients, while FUP analysis (median: 11 months FUP) showed CTC detection in 45.5% of the resected patients. CTC positivity (≥3 CTC) at FUP was significantly associated with short recurrence-free survival (p = 0.002). Furthermore, detection of RARRES1 positive CTCs was indicative of an even earlier relapse after surgery (p = 0.001). Conclusions: CTC detection in resected PDAC patients during FUP is associated with a worse prognosis, and RARRES1 expression might identify an aggressive subtype of CTCs that deserves further investigation.