bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil extracellular traps in central nervous system pathologies: A mini review
Authors: Shafqat Areez , Noor Eddin Ahmed , Adi Ghaith , Al-Rimawi Mohammed , Abdul Rab Saleha , Abu-Shaar Mylia , Adi Kareem , Alkattan Khaled , Yaqinuddin Ahmed
Published: February 2023

Neutrophils are the first cells to be recruited to sites of acute inflammation and contribute to host defense through phagocytosis, degranulation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Neutrophils are rarely found in the brain because of the highly selective blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, several diseases disrupt the BBB and cause neuroinflammation. In this regard, neutrophils and NETs have been visualized in the brain after various insults, including traumatic (traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury), infectious (bacterial meningitis), vascular (ischemic stroke), autoimmune (systemic lupus erythematosus), neurodegenerative (multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease), and neoplastic (glioma) causes. Significantly, preventing neutrophil trafficking into the central nervous system or NET production in these diseases alleviates brain pathology and improves neurocognitive outcomes. This review summarizes the major studies on the contribution of NETs to central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Relationships of ferroptosis-related genes with the pathogenesis in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Lin Shuang , Jin Xin , Gu He , Bi Fangfang
Published: February 2023

Background

Numerous studies have suggested that ferroptosis plays a significant role in the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we explored the role of ferroptosis-related genes in the pathogenesis of PCOS using a comprehensive bioinformatics method. First, we downloaded several Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and combined them into a meta-GEO dataset. Differential expression analysis was performed to screen for significant ferroptosis-related genes between the normal and PCOS samples. The least absolute shrinkage selection operator regression and support vector machine–recursive feature elimination were used to select the best signs to construct a PCOS diagnostic model. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and decision curve analysis were applied to test the performance of the model. Finally, a ceRNA network-related ferroptosis gene was constructed.

Results

Five genes, namely, NOX1, ACVR1B, PHF21A, FTL, and GALNT14, were identified from 10 differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes to construct a PCOS diagnostic model. Finally, a ceRNA network including 117 lncRNAs, 67 miRNAs, and five ferroptosis-related genes was constructed.

Conclusion

Our study identified five ferroptosis-related genes that may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS, which may provide a novel perspective for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PCOS.
Clinical outcomes of children and adolescents with sickle cell disease and COVID-19 infection: A year in review at a metropolitan tertiary pediatric hospital
Authors: Martin Olufunke Y. , Darbari Deepika S. , Margulies Stefanie , Nickel Robert S. , Leonard Alexis , Speller-Brown Barbara , Martin Brenda , Barber John R. , Webb Jennifer , Majumdar Suvankar , Sharron Matthew P. , Campbell Andrew D.
Published: February 2023

Background

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. Early reports were primarily in adults, and sickle cell disease (SCD) was classified as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease. However, there are a limited number of primarily multi-center studies reporting on the clinical course of pediatric patients with SCD and COVID-19.

Methods

We conducted an observational study of all patients with SCD diagnosed with COVID-19 at our institution between March 31, 2020, and February 12, 2021. Demographic and clinical characteristics of this group were collected by retrospective chart review.

Results

A total of 55 patients were studied, including 38 children and 17 adolescents. Demographics, acute COVID-19 clinical presentation, respiratory support, laboratory findings, healthcare utilization, and SCD modifying therapies were comparable between the children and adolescents. Seventy-three percent (N = 40) of all patients required emergency department care or hospitalization. While 47% (N = 26) were hospitalized, only 5% (N = 3) of all patients required intensive care unit admission. Patients frequently had concurrent vaso-occlusive pain crisis (VOC) (N = 17, 43%) and acute chest syndrome (ACS) (N = 14, 35%). Those with ACS or an oxygen requirement had significantly higher white blood cell count, lower nadir hemoglobin, and higher D-dimers, supporting a pro-inflammatory and coagulopathic picture. Non-hospitalized patients were more likely to be on hydroxyurea than hospitalized patients (79 vs. 50%, p = 0.023).

Conclusion

Children and adolescent patients with SCD and acute COVID-19 often present with ACS and VOC pain requiring hospital-level care. Hydroxyurea treatment appears to be protective. We observed no mortality despite variable morbidity.
Recent advances of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for therapy of bacterial infection
Authors: Song Yue , Zheng Xia , Hu Juan , Ma Subo , Li Kun , Chen Junyao , Xu Xiaoling , Lu Xiaoyang , Wang Xiaojuan
Published: February 2023

The rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance and the complicated bacterial infection microenvironments are serious obstacles to traditional antibiotic therapy. Developing novel antibacterial agents or strategy to prevent the occurrence of antibiotic resistance and enhance antibacterial efficiency is of the utmost importance. Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CM-NPs) combine the characteristics of the naturally occurring membranes with those of the synthetic core materials. CM-NPs have shown considerable promise in neutralizing toxins, evading clearance by the immune system, targeting specific bacteria, delivering antibiotics, achieving responsive antibiotic released to the microenvironments, and eradicating biofilms. Additionally, CM-NPs can be utilized in conjunction with photodynamic, sonodynamic, and photothermal therapies. In this review, the process for preparing CM-NPs is briefly described. We focus on the functions and the recent advances in applications of several types of CM-NPs in bacterial infection, including CM-NPs derived from red blood cells, white blood cells, platelet, bacteria. CM-NPs derived from other cells, such as dendritic cells, genetically engineered cells, gastric epithelial cells and plant-derived extracellular vesicles are introduced as well. Finally, we place a novel perspective on CM-NPs’ applications in bacterial infection, and list the challenges encountered in this field from the preparation and application standpoint. We believe that advances in this technology will reduce threats posed by bacteria resistance and save lives from infectious diseases in the future.
Challenges and opportunities of strain diversity in gut microbiome research
Authors: Anderson Benjamin D. , Bisanz Jordan E.
Published: February 2023

Just because two things are related does not mean they are the same. In analyzing microbiome data, we are often limited to species-level analyses, and even with the ability to resolve strains, we lack comprehensive databases and understanding of the importance of strain-level variation outside of a limited number of model organisms. The bacterial genome is highly plastic with gene gain and loss occurring at rates comparable or higher than de novo mutations. As such, the conserved portion of the genome is often a fraction of the pangenome which gives rise to significant phenotypic variation, particularly in traits which are important in host microbe interactions. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms that give rise to strain variation and methods that can be used to study it. We identify that while strain diversity can act as a major barrier in interpreting and generalizing microbiome data, it can also be a powerful tool for mechanistic research. We then highlight recent examples demonstrating the importance of strain variation in colonization, virulence, and xenobiotic metabolism. Moving past taxonomy and the species concept will be crucial for future mechanistic research to understand microbiome structure and function.
Sense and antisense RNA products of the uxuR gene can affect motility and chemotaxis acting independent of the UxuR protein
Authors: Tutukina Maria N. , Dakhnovets Artemiy I. , Kaznadzey Anna D. , Gelfand Mikhail S. , Ozoline Olga N.
Published: February 2023

Small non-coding and antisense RNAs are widespread in all kingdoms of life, however, the diversity of their functions in bacteria is largely unknown. Here, we study RNAs synthesised from divergent promoters located in the 3′-end of the uxuR gene, encoding transcription factor regulating hexuronate metabolism in Escherichia coli. These overlapping promoters were predicted in silico with rather high scores, effectively bound RNA polymerase in vitro and in vivo and were capable of initiating transcription in sense and antisense directions. The genome-wide correlation between in silico promoter scores and RNA polymerase binding in vitro and in vivo was higher for promoters located on the antisense strands of the genes, however, sense promoters within the uxuR gene were more active. Both regulatory RNAs synthesised from the divergent promoters inhibited expression of genes associated with the E. coli motility and chemotaxis independent of a carbon source on which bacteria had been grown. Direct effects of these RNAs were confirmed for the fliA gene encoding σ28 subunit of RNA polymerase. In addition to intracellular sRNAs, promoters located within the uxuR gene could initiate synthesis of transcripts found in the fraction of RNAs secreted in the extracellular medium. Their profile was also carbon-independent suggesting that intragenic uxuR transcripts have a specific regulatory role not directly related to the function of the protein in which gene they are encoded.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the posterior parietal cortex improves functional recovery in nonresponsive patients: A crossover, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study
Authors: Xu Chengwei , Wu Wanchun , Zheng Xiaochun , Liang Qimei , Huang Xiyan , Zhong Haili , Xiao Qiuyi , Lan Yue , Bai Yang , Xie Qiuyou
Published: February 2023

Background

Recent studies have shown that patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) can benefit from repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy. The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is becoming increasingly important in neuroscience research and clinical treatment for DoC as it plays a crucial role in the formation of human consciousness. However, the effect of rTMS on the PPC in improving consciousness recovery remains to be studied.

Method

We conducted a crossover, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical study to assess the efficacy and safety of 10 Hz rTMS over the left PPC in unresponsive patients. Twenty patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome were recruited. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: one group received active rTMS treatment for 10 consecutive days (n = 10) and the other group received sham treatment for the same period (n = 10). After a 10-day washout period, the groups crossed over and received the opposite treatment. The rTMS protocol involved the delivery of 2000 pulses/day at a frequency of 10 Hz, targeting the left PPC (P3 electrode sites) at 90% of the resting motor threshold. The primary outcome measure was the JFK Coma Recovery Scele-Revised (CRS-R), and evaluations were conducted blindly. EEG power spectrum assessments were also conducted simultaneously before and after each stage of the intervention.

Result

rTMS-active treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the CRS-R total score (F = 8.443, p = 0.009) and the relative alpha power (F = 11.166, p = 0.004) compared to sham treatment. Furthermore, 8 out of 20 patients classified as rTMS responders showed improvement and evolved to a minimally conscious state (MCS) as a result of active rTMS. The relative alpha power also significantly improved in responders (F = 26.372, p = 0.002) but not in non-responders (F = 0.704, p = 0.421). No adverse effects related to rTMS were reported in the study.

Conclusions

This study suggests that 10 Hz rTMS over the left PPC can significantly improve functional recovery in unresponsive patients with DoC, with no reported side effects.

Clinical trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05187000.
Benchmarking performance of an automatic polysomnography scoring system in a population with suspected sleep disorders
Authors: Choo Bryan Peide , Mok Yingjuan , Oh Hong Choon , Patanaik Amiya , Kishan Kishan , Awasthi Animesh , Biju Siddharth , Bhattacharjee Soumya , Poh Yvonne , Wong Hang Siang
Published: February 2023

Aim

The current gold standard for measuring sleep disorders is polysomnography (PSG), which is manually scored by a sleep technologist. Scoring a PSG is time-consuming and tedious, with substantial inter-rater variability. A deep-learning-based sleep analysis software module can perform autoscoring of PSG. The primary objective of the study is to validate the accuracy and reliability of the autoscoring software. The secondary objective is to measure workflow improvements in terms of time and cost via a time motion study.

Methodology

The performance of an automatic PSG scoring software was benchmarked against the performance of two independent sleep technologists on PSG data collected from patients with suspected sleep disorders. The technologists at the hospital clinic and a third-party scoring company scored the PSG records independently. The scores were then compared between the technologists and the automatic scoring system. An observational study was also performed where the time taken for sleep technologists at the hospital clinic to manually score PSGs was tracked, along with the time taken by the automatic scoring software to assess for potential time savings.

Results

Pearson's correlation between the manually scored apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and the automatically scored AHI was 0.962, demonstrating a near-perfect agreement. The autoscoring system demonstrated similar results in sleep staging. The agreement between automatic staging and manual scoring was higher in terms of accuracy and Cohen's kappa than the agreement between experts. The autoscoring system took an average of 42.7 s to score each record compared with 4,243 s for manual scoring. Following a manual review of the auto scores, an average time savings of 38.6 min per PSG was observed, amounting to 0.25 full-time equivalent (FTE) savings per year.

Conclusion

The findings indicate a potential for a reduction in the burden of manual scoring of PSGs by sleep technologists and may be of operational significance for sleep laboratories in the healthcare setting.
Efficient evaluation of the Open QC task fMRI dataset
Authors: Etzel Joset A.
Published: February 2023

This article is an evaluation of the task dataset as part of the Demonstrating Quality Control (QC) Procedures in fMRI (FMRI Open QC Project) methodological research topic. The quality of both the task and fMRI aspects of the dataset are summarized in concise reports created with R, AFNI, and knitr. The reports and underlying tests are designed to highlight potential issues, are pdf files for easy archiving, and require relatively little experience to use and adapt. This article is accompanied by both the compiled reports and the source code and explanation necessary to use them.
Integration of neuromorphic AI in event-driven distributed digitized systems: Concepts and research directions
Authors: Nilsson Mattias , Schelén Olov , Lindgren Anders , Bodin Ulf , Paniagua Cristina , Delsing Jerker , Sandin Fredrik
Published: February 2023

Increasing complexity and data-generation rates in cyber-physical systems and the industrial Internet of things are calling for a corresponding increase in AI capabilities at the resource-constrained edges of the Internet. Meanwhile, the resource requirements of digital computing and deep learning are growing exponentially, in an unsustainable manner. One possible way to bridge this gap is the adoption of resource-efficient brain-inspired “neuromorphic” processing and sensing devices, which use event-driven, asynchronous, dynamic neurosynaptic elements with colocated memory for distributed processing and machine learning. However, since neuromorphic systems are fundamentally different from conventional von Neumann computers and clock-driven sensor systems, several challenges are posed to large-scale adoption and integration of neuromorphic devices into the existing distributed digital–computational infrastructure. Here, we describe the current landscape of neuromorphic computing, focusing on characteristics that pose integration challenges. Based on this analysis, we propose a microservice-based conceptual framework for neuromorphic systems integration, consisting of a neuromorphic-system proxy, which would provide virtualization and communication capabilities required in distributed systems of systems, in combination with a declarative programming approach offering engineering-process abstraction. We also present concepts that could serve as a basis for the realization of this framework, and identify directions for further research required to enable large-scale system integration of neuromorphic devices.
Antiangiogenic drugs in combination with seaweed fucoidan: A mechanistic in vitro and in vivo study exploring the VEGF receptor and its downstream signaling molecules in hepatic cancer
Authors: Abdollah Maha R. A. , Ali Aya A. , Elgohary Hassnaa H. , Elmazar Mohamed M.
Published: February 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers reported worldwide with poor morbidity and high mortality rates. HCC is a very vascular solid tumour as angiogenesis is not only a key driver for tumour progression but also an exciting therapeutic target. Our research investigated the use of fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide readily abundant in edible seaweeds commonly consumed in Asian diet due to their extensive health benefits. Fucoidan was reported to possess a strong anti-cancer activity, but its anti-angiogenic potential is still to be fully unraveled. Our research investigated fucoidan in combination with sorafenib (an anti-VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and Avastin® (bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody) in HCC both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro on HUH-7 cells, fucoidan had a potent synergistic effect when combined with the anti-angiogenic drugs and significantly reduced HUH-7 cell viability in a dose dependent manner. Using the scratch wound assay to test cancer cell motility, sorafenib, A + F (Avastin and fucoidan) or S + F (sorafenib and fucoidan) treated cells consistently showed an unhealed wound and a significantly smaller %wound closure (50%–70%) versus untreated control (91%–100%) (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). Using RT-qPCR; fucoidan, sorafenib, A + F and S + F significantly reduced the expression of the pro-angiogenic PI3K/AKT/mTOR and KRAS/BRAF/MAPK pathways by up to 3 folds (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA versus untreated control). While ELISA results revealed that in fucoidan, sorafenib, A + F and S + F treated cells, the protein levels of caspases 3, 8, and 9 was significantly increased especially in the S + F group showing 40- and 16-times higher caspase 3 and 8 protein levels, respectively (p < 0.05, one-way-ANOVA versus untreated control). Finally, in a DEN-HCC rat model, H&E staining revealed larger sections of apoptosis and necrosis in the tumour nodules of rats treated with the combination therapies and immunohistochemical analysis of the apoptotic marker caspase 3, the proliferation marker Ki67 and the marker for angiogenesis CD34 showed significant improvements when the combination therapies were used. Despite the promising findings reported herein that highlighted a promising chemomodulatory effect of fucoidan when combined with sorafenib and Avastin, further investigations are required to elucidate potential beneficial or adversary interactions between the tested agents.
The potential antidepressant effect of antidiabetic agents: New insights from a pharmacovigilance study based on data from the reporting system databases FAERS and VigiBase
Authors: Battini Vera , Van Manen Robbert P. , Gringeri Michele , Mosini Giulia , Guarnieri Greta , Bombelli Anna , Pozzi Marco , Nobile Maria , Radice Sonia , Clementi Emilio , Carnovale Carla
Published: February 2023

Background: Growing evidence supports a bidirectional association between diabetes and depression; promising but limited and conflicting data from human studies support the intriguing possibility that antidiabetic agents may be used to relieve effectively depressive symptoms in diabetic patients. We investigated the potential antidepressant effects of antidiabetic drugs in a high-scale population data from the two most important pharmacovigilance databases, i.e., the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the VigiBase.

Material and methods: From the two primary cohorts of patients treated with antidepressants retrieved from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and VigiBase we identified cases (depressed patients experiencing therapy failure) and non-cases (depressed patients experiencing any other adverse event). We then calculated the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Empirical Bayes Geometric Mean (EBGM), and Empirical Bayes Regression-Adjusted Mean (ERAM) for cases versus non-cases in relation with the concurrent exposure to at least one of the following antidiabetic agent: A10BA Biguanides; A10BB Sulfonylureas; A10BG Thiazolidinediones; A10BH DPP4-inhibitors; A10BJ GLP-1 analogues; A10BK SGLT2 inhibitors (i.e., those agents for which preliminary evidence from literature supports our pharmacological hypothesis).

Results: For GLP-1 analogues, all the disproportionality scores showed values <1, i.e., statistically significant, in both analyses [from the FAERS: ROR confidence interval of 0.546 (0.450–0.662); PRR (p-value) of 0.596 (0.000); EBGM (CI) of 0.488 (0.407–0.582); ERAM (CI) of 0.480 (0.398–0.569) and VigiBase: ROR (CI) of 0.717 (0.559–0.921); PRR (p-value) of 0.745 (0.033); EBGM (CI) of 0.586 (0.464–0.733); ERAM of (CI): 0.515 (0.403–0.639)]. Alongside GLP-1 analogues, DPP-4 Inhibitors and Sulfonylureas showed the greatest potential protective effect. With regard to specific antidiabetic agents, liraglutide and gliclazide were associated with a statistically significant decrease in all disproportionality scores, in both analyses.

Conclusion: The findings of this study provide encouraging results, albeit preliminary, supporting the need for further clinical research for investigating repurposing of antidiabetic drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids in rats and its effects on liver enzyme activity
Authors: Liu Zhihua , Feng Yu , Zhao Hang , Hu Jinping , Chen Yanmin , Liu Dongdong , Wang Hongliang , Zhu Xiangyang , Yang Hongzhen , Shen Zhufang , Xia Xuejun , Ye Jun , Liu Yuling
Published: February 2023

Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) derived from twigs of mulberry (Morus alba L., genus Morus in the Moraceae family) was approved by the National Medical Products Administration in 2020 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition to excellent hypoglycemic effect, increasing evidence has confirmed that SZ-A exerts multiple pharmacological effects, such as protecting pancreatic ß-cell function, stimulating adiponectin expression, and alleviating hepatic steatosis. Importantly, a specific distribution of SZ-A in target tissues following oral absorption into the blood is essential for the induction of multiple pharmacological effects. However, there is a lack of studies thoroughly exploring the pharmacokinetic profiles and tissue distribution of SZ-A following oral absorption into the blood, particularly dose-linear pharmacokinetics and target tissue distribution associated with glycolipid metabolic diseases. In the present study, we systematically investigated the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of SZ-A and its metabolites in human and rat liver microsomes, and rat plasma, as well as its effects on the activity of hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s). The results revealed that SZ-A was rapidly absorbed into the blood, exhibited linear pharmacokinetic characteristics in the dose range of 25–200 mg/kg, and was broadly distributed in glycolipid metabolism-related tissues. The highest SZ-A concentrations were observed in the kidney, liver, and aortic vessels, followed by the brown and subcutaneous adipose tissues, and the heart, spleen, lung, muscle, pancreas, and brain. Except for the trace oxidation products produced by fagomine, other phase I or phase II metabolites were not detected. SZ-A had no inhibitory or activating effects on major CYP450s. Conclusively, SZ-A is rapidly and widely distributed in target tissues, with good metabolic stability and a low risk of triggering drug-drug interactions. This study provides a framework for deciphering the material basis of the multiple pharmacological functions of SZ-A, its rational clinical use, and the expansion of its indications.
Free convection channel flow of couple stress casson fluid: A fractional model using Fourier’s and Fick’s laws
Authors: Ahmad Shafiq , Haq Sami Ul , Ali Farhad , Khan Ilyas , Eldin Sayed M.
Published: February 2023

Fractional calculus is a branch of mathematics that develops from the usual definitions of calculus integral and derivative operators, just as fractional exponents emerge from integer exponents. The fractional derivative has been successfully used to describe various fundamental processes, including coiling polymer, viscoelasticity, traffic construction, diffusive transport, fluid dynamics, electromagnetic theory and electrical networks. However, many researchers do not use fractional derivatives to understand the physical properties of a non-Newtonian fluid that flows over a moving plate. The present paper aims to consider the couple stress Casson fluid between the parallel plates under variable conditions. The flow regime is formulated in terms of partial differential equations. Unlike the published work, this model is fractionalized using Fick’s and Fourier’s Laws. The system of dimensionless fractional PDEs is solved by using the joint applications of Laplace and Fourier transforms. The influence of several physical parameters, such as the Grashof number, Casson parameter, couple stress parameter etc., on velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are represented graphically and explained physically. Furthermore, skin friction, Sherwood and Nusselt numbers are numerically calculated and presented in tabular form. It is noted that the influence of physical parameters on skin fraction is opposite to the influence on velocity. Also, the Nusselt number decreases with increasing values of Pr and the Sherwood number increases for decreasing values ofSc. The results show that the velocity of the fluid is the decreasing function of the couple stress parameter and Casson parameter while the increasing function of the permeability parameter and Grashof numbers. It is also worth noting that, unlike the classical model, the present study provides various solutions in the range of an in-between (0, 1], shown inFigures 2,7,8) which might be useful for the experimental and numerical solver to compare their results.
Acute arterial stiffness responses to on-ball balance exercises in young and middle-aged adults: Role of posture and cumulative effects
Authors: Chen Wei , Miao Gaofan , Xv Yanfei , Zhou Zhixiong , Zhu Weili
Published: February 2023

Objective: To examine the acute arterial stiffness changes after maintaining one bout of balance on Swiss ball using different postures in young and middle-aged adults, and to evaluate the cumulative exposure effects on arterial stiffness after multiple exercise bouts in middle-aged adults.

Methods: Using crossover design, we first enrolled 22 young adults (24.0 ± 1.1 years) and randomized them to non-exercise control (CON), on-ball balance exercise trial lasting 1 × 5 min in kneeling posture (K1) and sitting posture (S1). In a following crossover experiment, 19 middle-aged adults (53.0 ± 4.7 years) were randomized to non-exercise control (CON), on-ball balance exercise trial lasting 1 × 5 min in kneeling posture (K1) and in sitting posture (S1), and on-ball balance exercise trial lasting 2 × 5 min in kneeling posture (K2) and in sitting posture (S2). Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), an indicator of systemic arterial stiffness, was measured at baseline (BL), immediately after (0 min), and every 10 min after exercise. CAVI changes from BL in the same trial (⊿CAVI) were used for analysis.

Results: In K1 trial, ⊿CAVI decreased significantly at 0 min (p < 0.05) in both young and middle-aged adults; however in S1 trial, ⊿CAVI at 0 min increased significantly in young adults (p < 0.05), with ⊿CAVI tending to increase in middle-aged adults. Bonferroni post-test revealed that at 0 min, ⊿CAVI of K1 in both young and middle-aged adults, and ⊿CAVI of S1 in young adults differed significantly from that of CON (p < 0.05). In middle-aged adults, ⊿CAVI decreased significantly at 10 min compared to BL in K2 trial (p < 0.05), and increased at 0 min compared to BL in S2 trial (p < 0.05); however, difference compared to CON was not significant.

Conclusion: Single on-ball balance bout in kneeling posture improved arterial stiffness transiently in both young and middle-aged adults; however, sitting posture elicited opposite changes, and this happened only in young adults. Multiple balance bouts resulted in no significant change in arterial stiffness in middle-aged adults.
Cerebrovascular dynamics after pediatric traumatic brain injury
Authors: Hanalioglu Damla , Burrows Brian T. , Adelson P. David , Appavu Brian
Published: February 2023

Objective: We aimed to investigate model-based indices of cerebrovascular dynamics after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) integrated into multimodality neurologic monitoring (MMM).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of pediatric TBI patients undergoing TCD integrated into MMM. Classic TCD characteristics included pulsatility indices and systolic, diastolic and mean flow velocities of the bilateral middle cerebral arteries. Model-based indices of cerebrovascular dynamics included the mean velocity index (Mx), compliance of the cerebrovascular bed (Ca), compliance of the cerebrospinal space (Ci), arterial time constant (TAU), critical closing pressure (CrCP) and diastolic closing margin (DCM). Classic TCD characteristics and model-based indices of cerebrovascular dynamics were investigated in relation to functional outcomes and intracranial pressure (ICP) using generalized estimating equations with repeated measures. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended Pediatrics score (GOSE-Peds) at 12 months, post-injury.

Results: Seventy-two separate TCD studies were performed on twenty-five pediatric TBI patients. We identified that reduced Ci (estimate −5.986, p = 0.0309), increased CrCP (estimate 0.081, p < 0.0001) and reduced DCM (estimate −0.057, p = 0.0179) were associated with higher GOSE-Peds scores, suggestive of unfavorable outcome. We identified that increased CrCP (estimate 0.900, p < 0.001) and reduced DCM (estimate −0.549, p < 0.0001) were associated with increased ICP.

Conclusion: In an exploratory analysis of pediatric TBI patients, increased CrCP and reduced DCM and Ci are associated with unfavorable outcomes, and increased CrCP and reduced DCM are associated with increased ICP. Prospective work with larger cohorts is needed to further validate the clinical utility of these features.
Nanotechnological approaches for management of soil-borne plant pathogens
Authors: Dutta Pranab , Kumari Arti , Mahanta Madhusmita , Upamanya Gunadhya Kr , Heisnam Punabati , Borua Sarodee , Kaman Pranjal K. , Mishra A. K. , Mallik Meenakshi , Muthukrishnan Gomathy , Sabarinathan Kuttalingam G. , Puzari Krishti Rekha , Vijayreddy Dumpapenchala
Published: February 2023

Soil borne pathogens are significant contributor of plant yield loss globally. The constraints in early diagnosis, wide host range, longer persistence in soil makes their management cumbersome and difficult. Therefore, it is crucial to devise innovative and effective management strategy to combat the losses caused by soil borne diseases. The use of chemical pesticides is the mainstay of current plant disease management practices that potentially cause ecological imbalance. Nanotechnology presents a suitable alternative to overcome the challenges associated with diagnosis and management of soil-borne plant pathogens. This review explores the use of nanotechnology for the management of soil-borne diseases using a variety of strategies, such as nanoparticles acting as a protectant, as carriers of actives like pesticides, fertilizers, antimicrobials, and microbes or by promoting plant growth and development. Nanotechnology can also be used for precise and accurate detection of soil-borne pathogens for devising efficient management strategy. The unique physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles allow greater penetration and interaction with biological membrane thereby increasing its efficacy and releasability. However, the nanoscience specifically agricultural nanotechnology is still in its toddler stage and to realize its full potential, extensive field trials, utilization of pest crop host system and toxicological studies are essential to tackle the fundamental queries associated with development of commercial nano-formulations.
Study on the eye movement characteristics of the badminton practitioners of different levels regarding visual attention
Authors: Chen Yanlan , Zulnaidi Hutkemri , Syed Ali Syed Kamaruzaman Bin
Published: February 2023

Badminton is a highly sophisticated, fierce, and competitive tactical game. It requires the same action of hitting a ball with different landing points. Therefore, the complexity of badminton practitioner's sports decision-making is relatively high. Accordingly, it is extremely important to study the difference between the eye movement characteristics of different levels of badminton athletes and the difference between the eye movement characteristics of different sports levels of amateur athletes. Overall, 15 students from the badminton professional training team of the Physical Education College of the Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University and 15 students from the common public sports and badminton course were included as experimental participants in the present study. The laboratory experimental test on the virtual sports situation in badminton was conducted using an eye tracker. The eye movement index of both the badminton professionals and the experimental participants was recorded for statistical analysis, and the following results were obtained: (1) In the cognitive decision-masking task, the reaction time of the professional badminton practitioners was faster than that of the amateur practitioners. Similarly, in the intuitive decision-masking task, the reaction time and accuracy of the former were better than those of the latter. (2) The professional badminton practitioners' group was able to process and integrate the searched information in the process of sports attention selection information; although the amateur group was able to search and filter information, they were passive and could not actively process and assimilate the searched information. (3) The professional badminton practitioners could allocate their attention reasonably and process information in the process of attention transfer, while their amateur counterparts were affected easily by external interference factors. The level of motor intelligence of badminton practitioners in the professional group was higher than that of the amateur practitioners. Thus, these two groups of different levels showed attention transfer. (4) The mental skills of the professional group were higher than those of the amateur group.
Monkeypox: New epidemic or fake news? Study of psychological and social factors associated with fake news attitudes of monkeypox in Italy
Authors: Nimbi Filippo Maria , Giovanardi Guido , Baiocco Roberto , Tanzilli Annalisa , Lingiardi Vittorio
Published: February 2023

Objective

Starting from May 2022, a growing number of monkeypox cases have been identified in several countries in Europe and the United States. To date, information on social reaction to the news circulating about monkeypox is limited. Assessing psychological and social elements related to the tendency to misinterpret monkeypox information is urgent and useful in setting up tailored education and prevention programs for specific populations. The present study aims to explore the association of selected psychological and social variables to monkeypox attitudes as fake news.

Methods

Three hundred and thirty-three participants (212 women, 110 men, and 11 other genders) from the general Italian population completed nine self-report measures.

Results

Results showed that people that were more likely to believe that monkeypox was a hoax were: older, heterosexual, politically conservative, and more religious. Moreoverm they were more likely to show more negative attitudes toward gay men, higher levels of sexual moralism, less knowledge and fear about monkeypox, no previous infections of COVID-19, lower number of COVID-19 vaccine doses, and being closer to no-vax theories. On the psychological side, participants that were more likely to believe that the monkeypox was a hoax were associated with lower levels of epistemic trust and order traits, with higher levels of epistemic mistrust, close-mindedness, and ability to process emotions. A full mediation model which explores the relationships between the main variables related to fake news attitudes toward monkeypox was tested, reporting good fit indices.

Conclusion

Results from the current study could be helpful to improve the effectiveness of health communication, design targeted education, and support people to engage in healthier behaviors.
Does past/current pain change pain experience? Comparing self-reports and pupillary responses
Authors: Yoo Hyunkyung , Cho Younhee , Cho Sungkun
Published: February 2023

Introduction

For decades, a substantial body of research has confirmed the subjective nature of pain. Subjectivity seems to be integrated into the concept of pain but is often confined to self-reported pain. Although it seems likely that past and current pain experiences would interact and influence subjective pain reports, the influence of these factors has not been investigated in the context of physiological pain. The current study focused on exploring the influence of past/current pain on self-reporting and pupillary responses to pain.

Methods

Overall, 47 participants were divided into two groups, a 4°C–10°C group (experiencing major pain first) and a 10°C–4°C group (experiencing minor pain first), and performed cold pressor tasks (CPT) twice for 30 s each. During the two rounds of CPT, participants reported their pain intensity, and their pupillary responses were measured. Subsequently, they reappraised their pain ratings in the first CPT session.

Results

Self-reported pain showed a significant difference (4°C–10°C: p = 0.045; 10°C–4°C: p < 0.001) in the rating of cold pain stimuli in both groups, and this gap was higher in the 10°C–4°C group than in the 4°C–10°C group. In terms of pupillary response, the 4°C–10°C group exhibited a significant difference in pupil diameter, whereas this was marginally significant in the 10°C–4°C group (4°C–10°C: p < 0.001; 10°C–4°C: p = 0.062). There were no significant changes in self-reported pain after reappraisal in either group.

Discussion

The findings of the current study confirmed that subjective and physiological responses to pain can be altered by previous experiences of pain.
Exploring changes in guest preferences for Airbnb accommodation with different levels of sharing and prices: Using structural topic model
Authors: Ding Kai , Choo Wei Chong , Ng Keng Yap , Zhang Qing
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Online reviews have become an important source of information for investigating customers’ consumption experiences in academic studies. In the context of sharing economy-based accommodation, various studies have been conducted to investigate the user experience of Airbnb by analyzing online reviews; however, most previous Airbnb studies had focused on analyzing the user experience of Airbnb at a holistic level without distinguishing the accommodation attributes of Airbnb. Therefore, this article aimed to investigate how the preferences revealed by Airbnb users in online reviews vary across Airbnb listings with different levels of sharing and price ranges.

Methods

This study analyzed 181,190 online reviews under Airbnb listings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using the structural topic model (STM).

Results

This study identified 21 topics related to Airbnb service and product attributes.

Discussion

The findings show that Airbnb users who stay at entire property are more concerned with the hedonic value of their stay, while those who stay at shared property are more concerned with the utilitarian value. The purposes of the host–guest interaction were also found to differ between these two types of Airbnb accommodations. Regarding the effect of listing prices on users’ preferences, findings reveal that those staying at lower-priced rooms were more concerned about the convenience of exploring the surrounding area, while those who stayed at higher-priced rooms were more concerned about the surrounding environment and the interior facilities of the property.
Frailty as a predictor of neurosurgical outcomes in brain tumor patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Jinfeng , Qiu Xichenhui , Ji Cuiling , Wang Fang , Tao An , Chen Lu
Published: February 2023

Background

Patients with frailty are at a high risk of poor health outcomes, and frailty has been explored as a predictor of adverse events, such as perioperative complications, readmissions, falls, disability, and mortality in the neurosurgical literature. However, the precise relationship between frailty and neurosurgical outcomes in patients with brain tumor has not been established, and thus evidence-based advancements in neurosurgical management. The objectives of this study are to describe existing evidence and conduct the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between frailty and neurosurgical outcomes among brain tumor patients.

Methods

Seven English databases and four Chinese databases were searched to identify neurosurgical outcomes and the prevalence of frailty among patients with a brain tumor, with no restrictions on the publication period. According to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, two independent reviewers employed the Newcastle–Ottawa scale in cohort studies and JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cross-sectional Studies to evaluate the methodological quality of each study. Then random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analysis was used in combining odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (RR) for the categorical data and continuous data of neurosurgical outcomes. The primary outcomes are mortality and postoperative complications, and secondary outcomes include readmission, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization costs.

Results

A total of 13 papers were included in the systematic review, and the prevalence of frailty ranged from 1.48 to 57%. Frailty was significantly associated with increased risk of mortality (OR = 1.63; CI = 1.33–1.98; p < 0.001), postoperative complications (OR = 1.48; CI = 1.40–1.55; p < 0.001; I2 = 33%), nonroutine discharge disposition to a facility other than home (OR = 1.72; CI = 1.41–2.11; p < 0.001), prolonged LOS (OR = 1.25; CI = 1.09–1.43; p = 0.001), and high hospitalization costs among brain tumor patients. However, frailty was not independently associated with readmission (OR = 0.99; CI = 0.96–1.03; p = 0.74).

Conclusion

Frailty is an independent predictor of mortality, postoperative complications, nonroutine discharge disposition, LOS, and hospitalization costs among brain tumor patients. In addition, frailty plays a significant potential role in risk stratification, preoperative shared decision making, and perioperative management.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42021248424
How to not revert to type: Complexity-informed learnings from the pandemic response for health system reform and universal access to integrated care
Authors: Parker Sarah , Mac Conghail Luisne , Siersbaek Rikke , Burke Sara
Published: February 2023

This article is part of the Research Topic ‘Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict’.

Background

COVID-19 has highlighted existing health inequalities and health system deficiencies both in Ireland and internationally; however, understanding of the critical opportunities for health system change that have arisen during the pandemic is still emerging and largely descriptive. This research is situated in the Irish health reform context of Sláintecare, the reform programme which aims to deliver universal healthcare by strengthening public health, primary and community healthcare functions as well as tackling system and societal health inequities.

Aims and objectives

This study set out to advance understanding of how and to what extent COVID-19 has highlighted opportunities for change that enabled better access to universal, integrated care in Ireland, with a view to informing universal health system reform and implementation.

Methods

The study, which is qualitative, was underpinned by a co-production approach with Irish health system leadership. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen health system professionals (including managers and frontline workers) from a range of responses to explore their experiences and interpretations of social processes of change that enabled (or hindered) better access to universal integrated care during the pandemic. A complexity-informed approach was mobilized to theorize the processes that impacted on access to universal, integrated care in Ireland in the COVID-19 context.

Findings

A range of circumstances, strategies and mechanisms that created favorable system conditions in which new integrated care trajectories emerged during the crisis. Three key learnings from the pandemic response are presented: (1) nurturing whole-system thinking through a clear, common goal and shared information base; (2) harnessing, sharing and supporting innovation; and (3) prioritizing trust and relationship-building in a social, human-centered health system. Policy and practice implications for health reform are discussed.